It is the covering that has helped him to fly high. And it is the topping that has turned the hamburger off for more than half a year. The Masters in Monte-Carlo opens the clay court season for Alexander Zverev.
“My goal is to play my best tennis again for the clay court season,” said the Olympic champion, who is in his adopted home of Monte Carlo shortly before the start of the Masters. The clay court tournament begins on Saturday under the Monaco sun – it heralds the most important time of the season for him.
After months of trying to get back to his former form, the 25-year-old wants to prove on what is probably his best surface that he is a force to be reckoned with. That he is among the best in the world. The strong tournament in the principality should be the first pointer – also with a view to the French Open from the end of May. The time for positioning begins with a view to the second Grand Slam tournament of the year, in which the Hamburger injured himself so severely last summer.
Small steps on the way back to the top of the world
In the semi-finals of Roland Garros, Zverev, in absolute top form and at eye level with clay court king Rafael Nadal, twisted so badly that he had to sit out more than half a year after an operation. The confidence in the body is now back and the shape is noticeably improved. The clear defeat in the second round duel in Miami against the Japanese Taro Daniel (0: 6, 4: 6) should remain a slip. The German number one had previously made clear steps forward in Dubai and Indian Wells. Now Zverev wants to build on that and set an example in a field that is still difficult to assess for the coming weeks.
Masters without Nadal and Alcaraz
Nadal, the fourteen-time Paris winner, canceled for Monte Carlo due to injury, as did US Open champion Carlos Alcaraz. Both will still be expected on sand. The same applies to world number one Novak Djokovic, who returns to the tour in Monaco. He was not allowed to play the tournaments in the USA due to a lack of corona vaccination.
They are joined by Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas and Norwegian Casper Ruud, both of whom were in the final at the French Open. The young Dane Holger Rune will also attack and want to underpin his status as a top ten player. Spheres in which Zverev, currently 16th in the world rankings, also wants to advance again. For this he needs strong results in the highly exciting clay court season.
This topic in the program:
Sports current | 07.04.2023 | 11:17 a.m
