It's one of his "favourite tournaments" of the tennis-year, like a "second home". And so it's no wonder that Alexander Zverev (ATP 12), especially at the 25th GERRY WEBER OPEN, the birthday party in HalleWestphalia, has got big plans: "I want to play my best tennis here, that's my main claim. The competition is tremendous, a very strong field of competitors. But I of course want to get into the act of fighting for the title," the 20 year-old from Hamburg said at a press conference on Monday ahead of his first task against the Italian Paolo Lorenzi (Tuesday, 2. match on Centre Court). Zverev feels good at the GERRY WEBER OPEN, because "all "of the walks are so wonderfully short" and "because I can see Court 1 and watch the matches from my hotel room": "It really is one of the best weeks for me in the tennis agenda."
After his early drop out at the French Open Zverev took a deep breath, relaxed by doing some angling and playing golf, gathered strenth - and then he started the preparations for the lawn season with much drive: "I enjoy playing on grass. I also know that I can play some good matches now", the German No. 1 said. "I have great memories of Halle, of my performance last year. Despite losing bitterly to Florian Mayer. "But there are these days and moments where you have to accept, that another player is better." The Zverev family have nearly all arrived at the tournament, their father Alexander and both sons Mischa and Alexander: "My mother will be arriving shortly. And she will be bringing the dog, who of course the most important member of the family."
Asked about a long-term commitment to the GERRY WEBER OPEN and a possible life-long contract like Roger Federers, Zverev said: "I can imagine that, but Roger would have to finish first. And we all hope that that won't be too soon. Besides, I haven't won enough yet for that." Basically a long-term cooperation was possible at tournaments such as the GERRY WEBER Open "which fits perfectly in the agenda."
