Alexander Zverev always had a hard time in his homeland. His critics in Germany saw him as too arrogant, too aloof. Now he is Olympic champion in tennis – and could trigger a new euphoria.
From Klaus Bellstedt
It was only two years ago that Alexander “Sascha” Zverev dem stern gave an interview and complained a bit about the lack of recognition in his home country. In 2019, Zverev had long been Germany’s best tennis player, and in 2018 he had also won a very important tournament with the ATP finals. Sure, he had not yet succeeded in triumphing at one of the four major Grand Slam events. And yet, the native of Hamburg has been part of the elite club of the world’s ten best tennis men for years. Despite everything, Zverev was never very popular in Germany – and certainly not loved. A good two years later, the 24-year-old is now Olympic champion.
Zverev has achieved something historic: never before has there been a German winner in the men’s individual tennis competition. “I would like tennis to get more attention in this country again,” he said at the time stern. One can assume that the time has now really come. And Sascha Zverev should also be seen in a different light by the public in his home country from now on.
Dream tennis against Djokovic
Zverev had a fantastic week of tennis at the Olympic Games. From the first match on, the current number five in the world rankings presented itself in impressive shape. The man from Hamburg also defied the hot and humid conditions in the Ariake Tennis Park in Tokyo Bay and dominated this tournament until the end. It was not the final against Russian Karen Khachanov, which Zverev won 6: 3 and 6: 1 in a hurry on Sunday, his masterpiece, but the semi-final against Novak Djoković. This victory against the seemingly indomitable number one in the world – the overplayer of this sport – was perhaps the best match of his life. Never before had Zverev succeeded in defeating the Serb in a Grand Slam tournament. Now suddenly, at the Olympics, the time had come.
The athletic advancement of the 24-year-old was particularly easy to observe in this match. After losing the first set against Djoković, his only one at all in this tournament, Zverev also achieved an incredible performance mentally and in the end won safely and almost frighteningly cool with 1: 6, 6: 3 and 6: 1. You couldn’t play tennis much better than in the last two sets against Djoković. The ensuing victory over Khachanov, number 25 in the world, was only the logical consequence.
“It’s something you can’t dream of. It’s feelings that I can’t describe,” Zverev wrestled with the words after his gold coup. The pictures that were transmitted from Tokyo showed an almost shy-looking young tennis player who, at the moment of his greatest success, came across as surprisingly modest and reserved. “I didn’t play for myself, but for the whole country,” he said.
In the family network against the tarnished image
Zverev, as was evident in the days of Tokyo, has fully internalized the spirit of the Olympic Games. Again and again he emphasized the solidarity in the entire German team and spoke in this context of a “small family” even after his Olympic victory. Tennis professionals are first and foremost more or less well-functioning I-AGs. You play all year round except for one or two team competitions just for yourself. This feeling, also new for Zverev, of representing a country as a collective at the Olympics, did not fail to have an emotional impact. On the way to the top, this experience could be a decisive milestone for the hamburger.
It was not always easy to be a fan of “Sascha” Zverev until the end. His image was long tarnished. His critics saw him as slightly arrogant and also a bit overrated. Zverev, who has his main residence in Monte Carlo, also had his own part in it. The party pictures of him in the middle of the corona pandemic were disturbing. There was a public and dirty argument with his ex-manager Patricio Apey, from whom he has since split up. There are still allegations of an ex-girlfriend in the room. This accuses Zverev of physical violence. An accusation that the 24-year-old continues to vehemently deny. Zverev has already changed the meanwhile new management. A lot now runs through his brother Mischa and the family network with father Alexander Senior, who is also training him again. Zverev needs this certain kind of family security.
Zverev wants a role model
Much has gotten better this year. The headlines were purely sporty until the end. Zverev has also taken the next level in his personality development. He sometimes reflects wisely and, according to his own admission, has worked on himself. On the sidelines of the Australian Open in Melbourne at the beginning of the year, he once said: “I thought about it and understood for myself: I want to be a person in Germany who children say: ‘Because of that I want to become a tennis player. I think Zverev is great. ‘”
Now he is an Olympic champion and the chances have never been better of fully fulfilling this role model that he himself has strived for with great ambition.
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
