He’s since Boris Becker 22 years ago the first German tennis player who plays for the title at the ATP season final: Alexander Zverev defeated his Idol, and now plays the biggest title of his career.
It was an unfortunate Situation: In the Tiebreak, a ball boy interfered with the game, Alexander Zeverev rule called compliant, the point must again be played. The then went to the German, the 21-Year-old turned short on his match point against Roger spring 7:5, 7:6 (7:5). The Fans booed him mercilessly, so that the young German Pro had the final Interview in tears and repeatedly apologized. “I didn’t want it to end this way,” said Zverev, and had to swallow: “I know what I should say. I’m just a little lost.”
Fair the was by the audience. Because Alexander Zverev had previously delivered against his former Idol, is a great Match and is now earned at the ATP Finale of the eighth season best in the final – the first German since Boris Becker in 1996. With a success on Sunday (19.00 CET) against the Serbs Novak Djokovic and Kevin Anderson from South Africa can enter Zverev, according to Boris Becker (1988, 1992, 1995), and Michael Stich (1993) as the third German in the victory lists.
In front of more than 17,000 spectators in London’s o2 Arena, the world ranking fifth in seamlessly with its performance out of the crucial group game on Friday followed, in which he had made against the American John Isner in the semi-finals perfectly. The fatigue that accompanies Zverev, according to his own statement, for the last two months had little impact. Especially in the important moments of the 21-Year-old high played focused.
Generation duel: The 21-year-old Zverev (on the left) and the 37-year-old Federer
To 6:5 in the first round, the sixth encounter between Zverev and Federer was balanced, but when the six-time champion from Switzerland wobbled on serve for the first time, it was Zverev. After a near-perfect return game, he converted his first Set point. The third victory over the 20-time Grand Slam Champion after the success at the Gerry Weber Open in 2016, and in Montreal in 2017, was not far.
But Federer, who has triumphed in London in 2011, fought back and took Zverev in the second set the serve. The spectators celebrated their darling and moaned in disappointment as Federer gave the Break right back. Henceforth, Zverev was EN route to, no nakedness, even if he is not quite so outstanding, served as the victory over Isner. The tension reached its climax in the Tiebreak of the second set. Zverev kept in the turbulent final phase of the nerve and triumphed to 1:34 hours.
While Federer, so at least by next year its 100. The title will have to wait on the ATP Tour, it is allowed to Zverev’s hope it’s a glorious way to end the season. Against Djokovic, he lost in the first round significantly, different than in his tournament debut in 2017 by the defeat in the second preliminary round game but not out of step. At that time Zverev against Federer, and arbitration lost. The final shows of its development in the past twelve months, he can crown it on Sunday with his biggest success to date.
sw/hf (dpa, sid)