Alexander Zverev Feels Good About His 2018 Season, And Why Shouldn’t He?
Alexander Zverev has taken his fair share of criticism in 2018—whether warranted or not—but the German believes that he’s made improvements to his game and his results, even if nothing about Zverev’s impressive campaign jumps straight off the page and screams next-level.“I think this season has been better than last year actually even though I only won one Masters, last year I won two,” he told reporters in Paris. “But I made two other finals. I’ve made five semifinals of Masters, which I didn’t do last year.”Zverev, still just 21, may have made his biggest win when he lined up Ivan Lendl to be his full-time coach. Though the German didn’t immediately thrive under Lendl’s tutelage this season, we should probably expect a major jump in his form once 2019 gets underway.
In truth, Zverev’s 2018 may have not beaten the lofty expectations many set for him after what he accomplished in 2017. When a player breaks through on the Masters 1000 stage like Zverev has done in the last two seasons, it’s only natural to expect Grand Slam success to follow. The German has been in the Top 5 for some time now, but his results at the Slams are more Top 20-ish. He has yet to reach beyond the quarterfinals in his career, and has only made the second week at a major twice in 14 appearance.That said, a big breakthrough was made at Roland Garros, where Zverev won three consecutive five-setters and reached the quarterfinals at a major for the first time. It may have not been the breakthrough that many had hoped for, but it’s something to build on for Zverev nonetheless.“I’ve also improved at the Grand Slams, I thought, a little bit, especially in Roland Garros I thought I played well until I got injured unfortunately,” he said. “But besides that I thought this season was even maybe better, and also, the season isn’t over yet.”” Yeah, I mean, I think this season has been better than last year actually even though I only won one Masters, last year I won two. But I made two other finals. I’ve made five semifinals of Masters, which I didn’t do last year.” (1/2) pic.twitter.com/aX7Hl4kWKF
— Christopher Levy (@tennis_shots) October 30, 2018
Zverev can still make a splash this week in Paris, and he’s currently three shy of his career-best win total of 55. There’s also the Nitto ATP Finals, where Zverev will make his second appearance. Zverev went 1-2 and failed to reach the semis last year in London, but took Roger Federer to three sets in one of his losses.Zverev adds that 2018 has been tougher in general because of the return of Novak Djokovic, not to mention Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray.“The big difference this year is a lot of players are back from injury,” he said. “Last year we had no Novak for half of the year. We had no Andy. Basically we had no Stan, and all those players back. So it was more difficult to have a season like that this year than I had last year.”Zverev will face Frances Tiafoe on Wednesdy in Paris—he has never won a match at the event, losing in his first match last year to Robin HaaseIt may not have been the perfect season, but it’s been a good one for Alexander Zverev any way you slice it. And with Paris just getting underway and London looming, Zverev still might beat those lofty expectations and make it a November to remember. ]]>
