Tennis: Zverev trains for Wimbledon coup – is Kerber surprised?

Before the start of his title hunt at Wimbledon, Alexander Zverev strolls past Centre Court without the hustle and bustle of the crowds. After a quick visit to the mountains for a charity event, Germany’s best tennis player jetted off to London and continued his preparation in a calm that will be over with the start of the tournament on Monday.

Three weeks after losing the French Open final, Zverev wants to make another attempt to close the Grand Slam title gap in his career. Unlike Angelique Kerber, he is one of the favorites.

The two German tennis protagonists are starting the traditional tournament under very different conditions. Even on her beloved grass, Kerber, the 2018 Wimbledon champion, is still lacking her former form after her maternity leave. Zverev is less fond of the surface, but now wants to show off for the first time at Wimbledon.

Will Paris provide the Wimbledon boost?

“Especially after his success at the French Open, he should have so much self-confidence that he knows that he can also go far at Wimbledon,” said Michael Stich, the last German men’s winner at Wimbledon in 1991, to “Sport Bild”.

Davis Cup team boss Michael Kohlmann also believes that Zverev can go “far” as number four, in keeping with his world ranking position. “Quarter-finals, semi-finals, and when you’re there, anything is possible anyway.” For Kohlmann, the top favorites are the Italian world number one Jannik Sinner, the Spanish defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and the Serbian Grand Slam record winner Novak Djokovic – provided he is fit after his knee injury. “Behind them there are many who can be dangerous and I would count Sascha among them,” Kohlmann told the German Press Agency.

Moderate Wimbledon record

Given his Wimbledon record, it seems unlikely that Zverev’s Grand Slam dream will come true on grass. But topping his best Wimbledon result should be possible. After all, he has never made it past the round of 16. A year ago, the Hamburg native even failed in the third round against the Italian Matteo Berrettini.

Unlike in Paris, the court case is unlikely to keep him as busy as it was in Paris. The trial days following the accusation of assault on his girlfriend at the time were initially scheduled to last until mid-July. However, the proceedings were dropped during the French Open without a conviction in return for a fine of 200,000 euros. This does not mean an admission of guilt. Zverev is still considered innocent.

“I still have to do one or two things better, but I think my chances at Wimbledon this year are much, much higher than I have seen them in the last few years,” said the gold medalist from Tokyo after he was knocked out in the semifinals in Halle. His goal is clear anyway: “I don’t want to end up as one of the most successful tennis players who has never won a Grand Slam.”

Wimbledon surprise? “Why not Angie?”

Unlike Zverev, Kerber has not won a single one of her preparation matches on grass, and was eliminated in the first round in both Berlin and Bad Homburg. The hope that things would go better for her on grass was not fulfilled, at least not before Wimbledon. Her Grand Slam record since her comeback as a mother at the turn of the year is dismal, with two first-round defeats.

“I noticed that I’m at the top,” Kerber said recently. “The match in Berlin wasn’t bad. It’s about the two or three percent, even if it means being a bit braver.”

The 36-year-old can be sure that pregnant Sabine Lisicki (34) will be keeping her fingers crossed. She demonstratively encouraged her. “Some player always causes a surprise at the Grand Slams. Why not Angie? She has so much experience on grass and she will fight until she drops,” said the 2013 Wimbledon finalist. “She is in top shape. And once you have won a tournament, anything is possible.”