Alexander Zverev; A blemish takes hold

“The chances have never been better.” A sentence that Alexander Zverev has probably heard more than once in the past few days. A sentence that was true, but still did not come true.

When Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, the two biggest favorites to win the US Open, failed last week, the path seemed clear for the German. Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev, who had been agreed to be the remaining main competitors, had only waited until the final. But the German will have to watch this on TV.

Zverev has once again failed on his way to his long-awaited first Grand Slam title. He was knocked out in the quarterfinals after a weak performance against the American Taylor Fritz. The dream was shattered – once again.

“It was just abysmal, I didn’t do anything to deserve the win, it’s as simple as that.” I played terribly. “The serve was OK, but I felt absolutely terrible from the baseline,” said the 27-year-old, not looking for excuses after the defeat.

Above all, his backhand, which is actually extremely strong, did not work in the match: “Terrible, absolutely terrible. My most reliable shot, which I normally play at three in the morning without any problems… I’m lost for words.”

He continued: “I had no feeling in my racket, zero point zero.” It was unbelievable. I don’t know if I’ve ever had that feeling on my backhand in my career. I think that was the first time, and I hope it will be the last time.”

Boris Becker also left no doubt that Zverev left the court as a deserved loser after countless minor mistakes, a lack of aggression and a generally passive style of play.

“Sascha fought well, but in the fourth set I didn’t get the feeling that he really believed in his chances.” He seemed inhibited today, as if he was playing with the handbrake on. He was also physically at his limit. The door to the final was open – and that may have slowed him down,” the tennis legend said at sportdeutschland.tv.

The US Open exit came against the very player who had already inflicted a heavy defeat on Zverev at Wimbledon around two months ago. At the time, Taylor Fritz had turned the round of 16 match against Zverev, who was suffering from a knee injury, despite being 0-2 down.

Since then, the signs have changed, as Zverev, whose greatest success is the 2020 Olympic victory in Tokyo, explained before the duel on Tuesday. “Now I’m healthy, that’s the big difference. I expect it to be another very, very tough match, a nice battle – hopefully with a different result than in Wimbledon.” But things turned out differently.

But the Wimbledon and US Open defeats against Fritz, who is now in a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time, are by no means the only major disappointments for Zverev in 2024.

At the Australian Open at the beginning of the year, he was knocked out in the semifinals – after a five-set drama against Daniil Medvedev. And the athlete had no reason to celebrate at the Olympics either. He was unable to defend his title; instead, Zverev struggled with the heat in Paris and was eliminated by the Italian Lorenzo Musetti.

The most bitter defeat, however, came at the beginning of June. In the final of the French Open, the first Grand Slam title was within reach – but it went to the opponent again. Zverev lost to the “beast” Carlos Alcaraz in five sets after leading 2-1. “What I learned here is that I have to get to a completely different level physically,” said Zverev at the time after the defeat.

Alexander Zverev has competed in a Grand Slam 34 times, and 34 times another player has won. Sinner, Medvedev, the even younger Alcaraz – the competitors from Zverev’s generation can all call themselves Grand Slam winners. Except for Zverev.

Of course, the Olympic victory, two victories at the ATP Masters, a total of 22 tournament victories and more than 45 million euros in prize money are certainly no failure. And yet: in the Grand Slams that are decisive in tennis, with their three sets the toughest challenge in the tournament circuit, it has never been enough for a title.

“I’ll be 28 next year and I still don’t have any of these titles, I’m not interested in anything else,” complained the deeply disappointed Zverev, who seems to be gradually running out of time.

But he doesn’t have to despair, as the past proves. In 2014, the Swiss Stan Wawrinka won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open at the age of almost 29.

And Goran Ivanisevic also proved in 2001 that it is always worth fighting. After a decade of winning a major title, he triumphed at Wimbledon at the age of almost 30. Zverev still has everything in store – but he has now reached an age where he would be considered a late bloomer. If he has not yet fulfilled his dreams.