US Open of tennis professionals: Zverev is looking for professional help – process “over years”

Alexander Zverev spoke on his own and in a clear voice about the step he chose because of his mental problems. He got “professional help” and continues to work with her, said Tokyo’s tennis Olympic champion when he commented on his health before the US Open started. However, he did not answer the type of help.

A mental coach? A psychotherapist? The 28-year-old, who had caused a stir in Wimbledon in Wimbledon with his words about the feeling of loneliness and lack of motivation on the tennis court internationally.

Professional help as a process “over years”

The help is good. “It is a process. This is not over within a week or two. I think that’s something you have to work on for several years,” said number three in the world. “This is what I do,” Zverev continued when he was sitting on the New York press podium in his purple hooded jacket.

A good seven weeks after his remarkable statements in Wimbledon, who not only felt Boris Becker “worrying”, Zverev was satisfied. He feels ready for the New York spectacle.

Zverev in contrast to Wimbledon: “Happy to be here”

“I feel much better,” said German number one, the great hope of German tennis for the last Grand Slam tournament of the season. “I was very frustrated with myself. I was not happy on the tennis court. Now I have the feeling that it is going back in the right direction,” said Zverev, “and I am very happy to be here”.

That sounded very different from his round-round debacle against the Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech. He had “never felt so empty,” Zverev gave up there about his soul life and also scored with the following sentence: “I lack the fun of everything I do.”

At this extraordinary press conference on July 1, Zverev also said that he may need therapy for the first time in his life. His daughter Mayla is the person who makes him happiest in life. “Something in me has to change, something that is not necessarily on the tennis court,” said Zverev.

US open team as usual-his environment? “Super”

In the New York press hall, his brother Mischa Zverev and buddy Sergei Bubka Junior, both his managers, were in the third row. As usual, his father Alexander Zverev Senior was on the training ground. In his team, Zverev has not yet made any striking, permanent changes. The people around him are “great,” Zverev appeased.

Some question also remained undisturbed on Friday. For example, the demand for the agreements with Toni Nadal. Or the question of whether he would have liked to have the successful coach in New York. The press conference ended before the questions came up because top star Novak Djokovic was the next interview guest.

Zverev had prepared for the North America tour at the Academy of the long-time Djokovic rival, the Rafael Nadal academy of Rafael Nadal on Mallorca. Before that, he had treated himself to a vacation, spent a lot of time with friends and was completely away from the tennis. The Wimbledon failure also had something good for him. He had time to “find himself”, flew fresher to Mallorca. He really “enjoyed” it to be back on the tennis court.

Zverev is convinced that Toni Nadal can bring him closer to the long-awaited first Grand slam title. However, a collaboration did not come about. “I think he was not used to not getting a yes immediately,” said tennis icon Becker in the joint podcast with Andrea Petkovic. Becker had previously advised Zverev an external trainer to keep pace with the currently dominating Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

In New York, Zverev was only lacking two dots for the Grand Slam triumph five years ago. He is still pursuing his goal. The Chilean Alejandro Tabilo should not be a stumbling block at the start. Overall, Zverev caught a long feasible draw. For the way to the hoped -for finale, it will also have to be 100 percent fit.

Too many painkillers against back pain?

And he was far from that a week ago. In Cincinnati he complained of breathing and circulatory problems, in phases was a shadow of himself. What was behind the problems was puzzled.

His values ​​in a blood count were okay, reported the three-time Grand Slam tournament finalist. “I don’t know exactly. I think I have taken too many pain relievers and maybe made myself a little bad. I’ve had back pain for the last few weeks.”

The back. Something else that can affect him. But Zverev is confident: “For me it is about winning the last point. I am very hopeful that I can do it this year.” The top favorites are Sinner and Alcaraz.