During an interview with Eurosport, Mats Wilander claimed that Alexander Zverev does not possess the qualities of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Wilander, in fact, said: « I still don’t see in Alexander Zverev the qualities that I saw in time with him in Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
Sascha is not as dominant as they are and I think it is an emotional issue. We saw it very well against Denis Shapovalov, we have to be honest. » The Swede spoke of the generational change taking place: « The Big 3 have set the bar so high that you have to be patient with young people.
I am still convinced that Zverev will win a Grand Slam this year. I hope it was just a bad day and that he understands why. In the next few years, there will be seven, eight, nine or ten players who will share the most important titles.
Sascha is certainly one of them, without forgetting Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Jannik Sinner, Dominic Thiem, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Carlos Alcaraz and Matteo Berrettini. »
Zverev’s Australian Open 2022
Alexander Zverev is set to be the biggest disappointment of these Australian Open.
The German was considered the second favorite to lift the trophy on Sunday 30 January, behind the Russian Daniil Medvedev. Sascha made a further qualitative leap in the second half of last year, so much so that he won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics and the ATP Finals in Turin.
The world number 3 had arrived in Melbourne with great ambitions, but his race was already interrupted in the round of 16 against Denis Shapovalov. The 24-year-old from Hamburg paid a very high price for a black day, in which he basically failed to do anything.
The Canadian took advantage of his opponent’s amnesia to establish himself thanks to the score of 6-3 7-6 (5) 6-3. Alexander was very strict with himself in the post-match: « I should have done more, there is no excuse.
I came here with the aim of winning and maybe becoming number 1. But if I play like this, I don’t deserve it, it’s all very simple. »
