Two Germans are still at the French Open – Alexander Zverev and Daniel Altmaier could even meet in the round of 16. The Olympic champion raves about the rise of his colleagues.
The German tennis sensation at this French Open also inspires Alexander Zverev. The Olympic champion is feverish with Daniel Altmaier – and longs for a duel with his Davis Cup colleague.
“I was a huge Daniel Altmaier fan today and will also be a huge Daniel Altmaier fan in two days – and then hopefully not next Monday,” said Zverev with a wink shortly before midnight after his own third round Entry at the clay court classic in Paris.
Zverev wants a German duel in the round of 16
If both master their next tasks this Saturday, there would be a German round of 16 on Monday at the Stade Roland Garros. “It would be an amazing experience for him, and it would also be great for me to play against another German in a Grand Slam,” Zverev enthused.
Altmaier is by no means without a chance against the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and could be among the top 16 in a Grand Slam tournament for the second time in his career. Even then, like after his five-set coup in more than five hours against the Italian title contender Jannik Sinner, the 24-year-old should hardly be able to save himself from congratulatory messages. “If I win a Challenger tournament, there is very little media attention. But if I win a round or two here, you think the cell phone will explode,” reported the world number 79. from Kempen.
In a duel with the American Frances Tiafoe, seeded number twelve, Zverev is facing his first real sporting endurance test after mastering the emotional test on the accident site in Paris. He had already gone to the Philippe-Chatrier court before the clear three-set win against Slovakian Alex Molcan, where he had been seriously injured almost exactly a year earlier, he revealed late Thursday evening. “Just to see him again.” It was “a perfect return, hopefully it will continue like this”.
The recent upward trend of the Germans behind Zverev also pleases the longtime leader. At the Masters tournament in Madrid, Altmaier and Jan-Lennard Struff were in the quarterfinals, Struff even reached the final. Yannick Hanfmann also recently drew attention to himself in Rome.
Becker praises Altmaier
“I’m incredibly surprised and incredibly happy with what German men’s tennis has to offer right now,” Zverev praised the second row. “In the last few years, people have always looked at me at the Grand Slams and the others weren’t really there. Now we have three or four guys who are really playing.”
For Altmaier it is not the first appearance on the big stage. In 2020 he beat a star from the top ten at the French Open in Matteo Berrettini from Italy and reached the round of 16. A success that he could not build on before this edition. “This is another Altmaier, he’s more focused, he has a plan,” Eurosport expert Boris Becker praised his recent development.
And the son of a Russian and a Ukrainian, who has been looked after by an Argentine team for a long time, sees a change in himself. “My kind of tennis game has developed in a different direction,” analyzed Altmaier. “Now I’ve become a different player, grown as a person.”
A German round of 16 would be the next step. “If we both win the third round, we would both be pretty happy about it and so would everyone else,” said Zverev.
Source: Stern
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