Tennis-Masters: Next disappointment: Zverev fails early in Monte-Carlo

Alexander Zverev rushed off the square with a pinched face. In his adopted home of Monte-Carlo, the tennis world ranking list has experienced the next difficult disappointment directly at the start. The 27-year-old lost to the Italian Matteo Berrettini 6: 2, 3: 6, 5: 7 at the Masters 1000 tournament.

Zverev was top set at the sandplace event and had a free time in the first round. He did not do justice to this favorite position against the former Wimbledon finalist after the first set won. This continues the form crisis of Zverev: since the lost final of the Australian Open, the Olympic champion of 2021 has not got beyond the quarter -finals of a tournament.

Perfect start – but then it goes downhill

Zverev initially achieved a perfect start in the second round game on the Côte d’Azur. The Hamburger managed two quick breaks, was 4-1 in the lead thanks to a concentrated performance and almost effortlessly won the first set. In the second round, Zverev made the first mistake, fell 2: 4 behind and finally lost 3: 6.

After a balanced start to the third set, Berrettin took the break to 4: 3 and was driven by the spectators. But at 5: 4 the Italian suddenly wobbled, made unnecessary mistakes and gave his serve.

It became a nerve thriller at a high level – with the worse ending for Zverev. Berrettini won a breakball in an epic point with 48 ball touches, which he also used for 6: 5. Zverev acted too passively and had to give up after 2:28 hours.

For Zverev, it was not the hoped -for change after difficult weeks in the principality. In Miami, Zverev had recently lost in the round of 16 against the French star Arthur Fils. The lack of self -confidence was also noticeable in the crucial moments of the duel with Berrettini.

Training guest Becker gives reason for speculation

Before the start of the tournament, common pictures of Zverev and tennis legend Boris Becker caused a sensation on the training ground and fueled speculation about collaboration. The three-time Wimbledon winner Becker stopped by at the weekend, watched several units on the clay court and always gave Zverev clues.

However, Becker left again on Monday. “Boris and I have a great connection. If something happens, let’s let you know. As long as you can speculate, make a story of it. I say nothing about it,” Zverev said at Sky last Saturday.