To those who didn’t believe he was capable of it: you were right, neither was he. But this year, the situation is different. Alexander Zverev arrived at the end of June at Wimbledon with the feeling that he had a serious shot to play. And by his own admission, as incongruous as it may seem, this is the first time that this has crossed the mind of the 4th in the world.
Wimbledon, or the Grand Slam tournament that Zverev can’t tame
“It’s funny, I talked about it with my brother: it’s the first time I feel like I’m here as a competitor, to maybe win the title. I didn’t feel like this when I came in recent yearsconfided the German at a press conference on Saturday afternoon. I didn’t feel capable of it. I didn’t believe I was capable.“Good luck to him, because so far, the 7 editions he has played have ended quite early for him: never later than in the round of 16 (in 2017 and 2021).
It is also surprising that a player of his caliber, and more advanced in his size, stopped at the maximum at the turn of the two weeks while he has already reached the last four of all the other tournaments at least twice. of the Grand Slam. But Zverev seems determined to correct the anomaly. The German is riding a positive dynamic that his final at Roland-Garros did not nip in the bud, nor did his elimination in the semi-final in Halle against Hubert Hurkacz (defeat 7-6, 6-4) . At home, Zverev had the opportunity to find his feet on grass, to arrive serenely on the courts of the All England Club.
The most open Wimbledon in 20 years
If this confidence manifests itself with so much honesty in the German, it is also because, unlike in not so distant editions, the headliners do not overwhelm the table with their names. “This is the most open Wimbledon we’ve had in maybe 20 years, in terms of potential winnershe assessed. I don’t think it’s been like this since Roger (Federer, editor’s note) started, because after him there was Rafa, Novak, Andy… Always a small number of players who were capable of winning tournaments.“
Zverev will open his tournament against Roberto Carballes Baena on Tuesday, and could face the formidable Jack Draper in the third round. But if his serve is at the level he offered at Roland-Garros, it will be difficult for his opponents in the first week to resist him. The German only lost his serve once in Halle, against Hurkacz; even if that was enough, stealing 3 sets from him will be a big challenge this fortnight. And the fact that he seriously believes in his chances of victory will not help matters.
