Great success for Alexander Zverev! Germany’s best tennis player in the ATP world Cup in the semi-finals for the first Time in his young career. Now it’s time for the 21-Year-old against one of his idols.
Nerve strongly to the semi-finals: the first German since Rainer Schüttler before 15 years, Alexander Zverev in the season finale of the world’s best qualified tennis professionals for the K. o.-round. In the decisive group match, the 21-year-old Hamburg won against John Isner (USA) 7:6 (7:5), 6:3 and calls to his second victory in the third Match now Roger Federer.
Zverev plays on Saturday (15.00 CET) against the record champion from Switzerland to be the largest of the endgame. “I hope that tomorrow I can play against Roger’s good Tennis,” said Zverev in the Sky: “Fresh is no more.” The second semi-final contest in the evening (21.00 CET/both Sky) Novak Djokovic (Serbia) and tournament debutant Kevin Anderson from South Africa. Djokovic’s group finale on Friday night against the Croatians Marin Cilic has a sporty of no importance.
Zverev could count against Isner on his serve, by far the youngest player in the tournament, served 18 aces and eight more than the 2,08 m giant of a man. Of the mental fatigue that accompanies Zverev in the final sprint of the season and left him on Wednesday against Djokovic after a balanced first set break (4:6, 1:6), was little felt. “Against John, only one or two points decide it usually is,” said Zverev: “We know each other so well, maybe I know what he’s thinking in the important moments.”
In the footsteps of Becker and Stich
Although he came to himself a long time is hardly in the vicinity of a break ball, proved in the decisive moments, however, the nerves strength. Isners set the ball in the first round, he fought back with an ACE and remained in the Tiebreak until the last ball is concentrated. In the second set, Zverev converted his only break of the ball to the 5:3 and a little later to 1:21 hours on his first match ball. Throughout the game, he lamented significantly less than in the Matches before, the will, the long-awaited holiday to move at least a day after back, was on his face. For Zverev, it was already the fifth victory in the sixth duel with Isner, the only one in the final of the Masters from Miami at 1. April he had lost against his mate.
Zverev continues with the semi-finals of its development, at its Premiere last year in London, he had lost the decisive group game against the American Jack Sock is still something of a surprise. Against Federer Zverev needs a stellar premium rate, the Chance to win the title to maintain. As yet only German Boris Becker (1988, 1992, 1995), and Michael Stich (1993) have triumphed in the season finale.
Federer has won the tournament six times, and after a weak Start on the last Sunday of his 100. ATP title back in the visor. The 37-Year-old was defeated on Thursday night, Kevin Anderson 6:4, 6:3 and in first place in his group backed up. In the direct balance with Zverev, the 20-time Grand Slam Champion with a 3:2 lead.
sw (dpa, sid)