One of the special features of a Grand Slam tennis tournament is that the players have some time off during the two intensive weeks. The fact that there isn’t a match every day at the Australian Open leaves time for activities off the court: Iga Swiatek recently went for coffee in Melbourne. Caroline Wozniacki with her children at the zoo. Others just stay in the hotel and watch tennis.
It is not known what Alexander Zverev did apart from training at the facility on his two days without a game. But he will certainly have watched some of the games or at least the results – and can now be a little more reassured: he is not alone. Almost all of his top-seeded competitors have already given up a set this year and have been on the court a little longer than they would have liked.
It therefore fit with the impressions of the first few days that Zverev also had his problems with compatriot Dominik Koepfer on Tuesday evening. The German prevailed 4:6, 6:3, 7:6 (7:3), 6:2 against the world number 62 in 3:12 minutes. But the 26-year-old often noticed that he was far below his potential. Zverev swore again and again in the Margaret Court Arena and shouted something in Russian towards his box, in which his father and coach Alexander and brother Mischa were sitting, when he was ahead by a break in the fourth set and everything looked like he would would win.
“A few tough guys there”
His dissatisfaction was understandable given the 58 unnecessary errors that the statisticians counted. Zverev knows the problem: If you’re on the pitch for too long in the first few rounds, you’ll run out of strength more quickly later when you’re up against the top players. Zverev can only meet Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. But he will also have to improve for the opponents before him in order to be successful: The Czech Jiri Lehecka (seeded 32nd), who has just won the preparatory tournament in Adelaide, could wait in the third round.
In the round of 16, Zverev would probably meet Briton Cameron Norrie or Casper Ruud, who has already reached a Grand Slam final three times. “There are a few tough guys there,” says Zverev, who will now face Slovakian Lukas Klein. “I’m not a good first-rounder. I don’t think I’ve ever played a good first round at a Grand Slam tournament,” said Zverev. The German had actually been in good form recently. He led Germany to victory in the United Cup. But in Melbourne he was still at odds with the place. “I still have to find my rhythm here,” said Zverev, but it was also clear to him that he didn’t have much time left. “I will have to play better because my opponents will also get better.”
After his way back to sixth place in the world rankings, Zverev recently looked forward again with optimism: “I’m now back in the top ten – what speaks against me becoming number one this year or at some point?” he asked in an interview with Playboy magazine. You can see that he has made progress in the year since his comeback after a previous injury break. “When I was 20, I went to the net to shake hands and played a slice when I had wrist pain,” says Zverev.
The statistics prove this: he came to the net against Koepfer 39 times and won the rally 33 times. He has also improved his serve. The new strengths could be important on the way to the planned first Grand Slam title. First of all, it will be about avoiding unnecessary mistakes on baseline shots.
Trial in Berlin
When Zverev came to the press conference after the game, the German was initially asked about a completely different topic. As it became known on Monday, Zverev will have to stand trial in Berlin. The trial against him is scheduled to begin at the Tiergarten district court during the French Open on May 31st. The background is a criminal order that the district court imposed in October 2023. Zverev is to pay a fine of 450,000 euros (90 daily rates of 5,000 euros each) for bodily harm. He rejects the allegations.
David Lindenfeld, Melbourne Published/Updated: Recommendations: 3 Published/Updated: David Lindenfeld, Melbourne Published/Updated: Recommendations: 2
Zverev has lodged an objection and is allowed to be represented by a lawyer in the trial, which is scheduled to last eight days. Is it appropriate that someone against whom such allegations are made still sits on the “Players Council” of the professional organization ATP, a journalist wanted to know. He was recently elected to the players’ committee by his colleagues. “Why shouldn’t it be?” Zverev asked back. He has no doubt that his professional colleagues continue to support his position on the players’ committee. “Nobody said anything to me.”
