Alexander Zverev (ATP 23) was the first to arrive on the training courts at the TERRA WORTMANN OPEN and to already start practicing his shots on Thursday – and, who worked up a good sweat. His working zeal didn’t slacken even in the next couple of days; the Olympic champion was on the courts in HalleWestphalia twice a day to master the difficult transition from sand to grass. Now, at the start of the anniversary of Germany’s most important tennis competition, the 26 year-old from Hamburg is aiming for his persistent, detailed practice is to be rewarded. “I’m happy with my form. I’m playing well, everything is okay”, Zverev said in a press talk ahead of the first rallies at the 30th edition of the ATP 500 classic grass competition. “I am now able to come to a tournament again and say: I can and I want to win.”
Meanwhile Zverev is also a part of the 30 years of tournament history – he is a regular guest in HalleWestphalia since going professional nearly 10 years ago. But even as a little boy the two-times ATP World Champion was on Zverev family tour in Eastern Westphalia on the Centre Court. “My first real memory is from 2008 when my brother Mischa won the doubles title together with Michail Youzhny”, Zverev stated. “The tournament became a part of my professional season, a fixed date in my calendar.”
He had many ‘great memories’ of the tournament, the first victory against Roger Federer, for instance, in the semi-finals 2016. Zverev has already reached the final matches four times at the TERRA WORTMANN OPEN, singles 2016 (Mayer) and 2017 (Federer), doubles (both together with his brother Mischa) 2017 and 2018. But the ‘northern light’ hasn’t been granted a victory so far. “It’s time this changes”, Zverev said who is versatile engaged this year, in the doubles, namely, at the side of Andrey Rublev.
The strength of many German professional players from the former second row makes him ‘happy‘, Zverev explained in the press talk. “That is a win for national tennis”. The width was missing in the last few years, but now players like Daniel Altmaier or Yannick Hanfmann are delivering top results. “The situation in German tennis has become really good during the season, of course also and foremost because of Struffi, who is flying the flag and has now kicked it up a notch”, Zverev said. Struff, who just reached the finals in Stuttgart, will start into the run for the title as the German No. 1 at the TERRA WORTMANN OPEN – in the ATP’s so-called live ranking he is at no. 21 of the world rankings ahead of Alexander Zverev. Officially, the new ranking list will be announced on Monday, June 19.
Next to the sweaty training on the tennis grass the 26 year-old finds time to switch off and relax – also on green, playing golf. Accompanied by his girlfriend Sophia Thomalla, Zverev, just like on the Centre Court, was looking good while he teed off at the golf club Teutoburger Wald nearby ahead of the anniversary edition. The man from Hamburg is also known to be a top golf player, nearly playing off a single figure handicap.
