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And all this in a year so turbulent that the world would love to be taken out of the history books:
For Alexander Zverev to be in the final of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time at the US Open in the era of pandemics, no one would have thought it was possible six months ago. (US Open 2020 schedule and results)
Corona’s mandatory recess, the now coincidental exclusion of spectators in New York, before the fatal Adria Tour with infractions of hygiene regulations, then the ad hoc obligation of the new Spanish coach David Ferrer – 2020 hit its capers with German tennis -Estrella .
Now, however, comes the big blow: in the Arthur Ashe Stadium final, the opponent is none other than Zverev’s friend Dominic Thiem. (US Open: Final Alexander Zverev vs. Dominic Thiem on Sunday starting at 10 pm on LIVETICKER)
In previous duels with the Austrian, Hamburg had almost always drawn the short straw. SPORT1 explains what still speaks for Zverev and his greatest triumph to date.
Nervous force:
In the semi-final thriller against Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta, Zverev was already behind with 0-2 sets, to then strike back and turn the game around. Former coach Boris Becker ennobled the 23-year-old as a “monster of the mind.”
Even in the quarter-finals against Borna Coric, Zverev showed strong nerves, remained calm after a 1: 6 in the first set and despite the opponent leaving the place several times to change his shirt, and inevitably made the match was restless.
With this knowledge, Zverev should also be able to play his qualities back against Thiem. The desire for revenge may also inspire you in view of the previous 2: 7 balance: the seventh in the world rankings recently experienced a narrow four-set loss in the Australian Open semifinals against Thiem, who is four ranks better.
Attention:
Against all odds of the year in bad shape: Zverev seems focused like never before. “He has become more mature, has the goal in mind and also knows how to get there,” he said recently in an interview with SPORT1 also brother Mischa Zverev.
The Adria Tour fiasco: hidden. The shit storm after a party scandal with an initially dreaded corona infection – he dialed and apologized. The apparent separation from model friend Brenda Patea – overcome.
That Zverev in the Big Apple is also based on a strange constellation of supervisors because Ferrer is not there and therefore he is temporarily trained by Mikhail Ledovskikh, who otherwise trains brother Misha, it does not matter. The ability to concentrate and the performance curve are more than ever at the highest level. “I couldn’t be happier, but there is one more step to take,” he says, staying focused.
Impulse:
Last but not least, Zverev can be optimistic about the fact that he could never have reached a final so easily again. He avoided Novak Djokovic, who was disqualified for the murder of his linesman, as did Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, who did not even appear from the giant trio.
The pressure is on Thiem, who is the favorite in a Grand Slam final for the first time, having lost in his three attempts to date against Nadal (French Open 2018 and 2019) and Djokovic (Australian Open 2020).
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Even if Thiem tries to downplay the roles (“I think it’s a lot of pressure for both of us”) and it is apparently irrelevant to him that his opponent is in his first grand finale (“I wouldn’t say now, which is a huge advantage”):
The signs are favorable for Zverev, who can play more freely, and perhaps even push for a win at the US Open in Germany for the first time after Becker in 1989.
Fitness:
The numbers speak for Thiem, but only at first glance: while the Austrian only made one set against Marin Cilic, Zverev lost six rounds and suffered a 2-0 deficit in the duel with Carreño Busta, which cost a lot of force.
Thiem is not deluding himself: “He’s in top form when you look at him. Incredibly well trained, incredible stamina. I know for myself that in a Grand Slam final the tension and emotions are so high that you can not feel tired” , He says. And he adds: “Then I would say that we are both going one hundred percent.”
It remains to be seen if this is actually the case anyway, because: Thiem had had to undergo treatment for the Achilles tendon at his gala against Daniil Medvedev.
For the final, he has now given the go-ahead, but the longer the game lasts, the more the physicist will speak for Zverev, who already knows the first-class forces in his team with Jez Green (physical and athletic trainer) and Hugo Gravil ( physiotherapist). .
Play ability:
Zverev has to admit: Thiem is the most complete actor. The 27-year-old dominated the entire tournament, acted aggressively and tactically highly variable. Lots of backhand cutting, extreme forehand spin, and tough returns – Thiem poses problems for all opponents.
But Zverev’s repertoire is impressive too, in addition to the currently more pronounced ability of the gifted to slip out of every seemingly hopeless situation.
Gone are the days of many double mistakes. “The most important key for me will be the return of your serve, because your first serve is currently one of the best, if not the best,” Thiem said.
That gives Zverev free points over and over again, which in turn makes him play more and more from the baseline.
Whatever he can deliver in the final: Zverev has gone to the next level – the time has come to win the big title.
