Zverev shows he is ready
After stunning Djokovic to claim ATP Finals title, German hailed as next superstar
LONDON: Twenty-four hours after being booed for having the audacity to take down a tennis great, Alexander Zverev returned to topple another one as he stunned Novak Djokovic to win the ATP Finals title on Sunday.
Zverev, billed as the player most likely to lead the sport into a new golden era once the holy trinity of Roger Federer, Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have hung up their rackets, took full advantage of an off-key Serb to win 6-4, 6-3. Hamburg-born Zverev had been shamefully booed and heckled on Saturday by a Federerworshipping crowd having beaten the six-time champion after a controversial second-set tiebreak.
Against world number one Djokovic, however, the 18,000 fans wedged into the cavernous O2 arena were roaring their support as he produced a level of tennis his opponent could not match.
He struck 20 winners to Djokovic’s seven — the last of which was a backhand to end a one hour and 19 minute duel.
“I really can’t describe it. It is the biggest title I have ever won,” Zverev said on court after becoming the first German to win the ATP’S most prestigious title — often referred to as ‘the fifth slam’ — since Boris Becker in 1995.
MAIDEN TRIUMPH
In becoming the youngest ATP Finals champion since Djokovic, also 21, in 2008, Zverev sent out a clear message that he is ready to spend a considerable amount of time at tennis’ top table and start accumulating the game’s biggest prizes.
Djokovic, whose error-strewn display was a shock after a dominant week in south east London which included an easy roundrobin win over Zverev, sportingly walked around the net to congratulate his conqueror after match point — the German still laying on his back in a state of disbelief.
Later, Djokovic told reporters: “There’s a lot of similarities in terms of trajectory of professional tennis, in our careers. Hopefully he can surpass me.
“There’s a lot of time ahead of him. (I) Wish him to stay healthy and obviously win a lot of titles.”
BECKER HAILS THE NEW SUPERSTAR
Zverev has proven himself as the best of tennis’ new generation of men’s players following his maiden ATP Finals title where he beat Federer and Djokovic in consecutive days, German great Boris Becker has said.
“For years we have been saying tennis needs new faces and strong new players - and he’s proved he is the best of the next generation,” Becker, the last German to win the ATP Finals in 1995, told the BBC.
“Beating Novak Djokovic in the final was a big upset and a big victory for Sascha (Zverev). It was the big match which we were all waiting for from him.”