Zverev plays idols as wannabees compete in ATP Next Gen finals
MILAN: Rising star Alexander Zverev dropped by to hit a few balls as the Next Gen ATP Finals showcasing future idols and innovations of tennis got underway in Milan on Tuesday.
Zverev, at 20, should have been among the line-up in the under-21 version of the ATP Tour Finals but his stunning season has already earned him a ticket to play with the big boys in London.
He snatched five titles in a whirlwind 2017, brushing aside the likes of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer. The only survivor was Rafael Nadal who beat the upstart German twice.
“Playing some of the eight best players in the world is very special,” said Zverev of next week’s London challenge.
“It’s going to be an amazing experience after a lot of ‘first times’ this year.”
Zverev was even beginning to sound like a battle-hardened tennis star, when asked to name his idol. “Roger Federer ... I’ve answered this question about 150 times!” he snapped.
As he plotted his challenge against his childhood heroes — playing just an exhibition game in Milan — a group of eight wannabes were competing for the Next Gen ATP trophy in a tournament with prize money worth $1.275 million with a TWIST.AGENCIES LONDON: World number one Rafael Nadal will play David Goffin in his opening ATP Finals match on Monday.
Spaniard Nadal has been grouped with Belgium’s Goffin, Dominic Thiem of Austria and Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. The first group begins on Sunday, with six-time Swiss winner Roger Federer playing Jack Sock of the USA, and Germany’s Alexander Zverev against Czech Wimbledon finalist Marin Cilic.
The event will be broadcast live on BBC television, radio and online.
The best eight qualified singles players and doubles teams from the tour go headto-head for the prestigious end-of-season titles.
Each player competes in three group matches, playing for a spot in the semi-finals.
Britain’s defending champion Andy Murray misses out after ending his season early because of injury.
Nadal, who has won six titles this year including the French and US Open, has already guaranteed top spot in the world rankings this season.
He pulled out of the Paris Masters earlier this month with a knee injury and said he would “do his best” to return for the Finals.
In the doubles draw, Britain’s Jamie Murray and his partner Bruno Soares will start their quest for the trophy against the American Bryan brothers. NAGPUR: Saina Nehwal dug deep into her reservoir of experience and upstaged fancied P V Sindhu, quite incredibly, in straight games to clinch the women’s singles title in the Senior National Badminton Championship on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old Saina, a former world number one, got the better of Sindhu, the Olympic and World Championship silver medallist, 21-17 27-25 in a pulsating summit clash that lasted 54 minutes.
“I am surprised with the way I played today (on Wednesday). I moved well and picked Sindhu’s difficult shots,” an elated Saina said after the win.
Second seed H S Prannoy, who achieved a careerbest World No. 11 ranking last week, saw off top seed World No 2 Kidambi Srikanth 21-15 16-21 21-7 in a 49-minute battle to win the men’s singles title in the 82nd edition of the tournament.
It was double delight for Ashwini Ponnappa, who claimed two titles — clinching the mixed doubles with Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and women’s doubles with N Sikki Reddy.
Second seeds Manu Attri and B Sumeeth Reddy bounced back from a game and threematch point down in the second game to beat top seeds Satwik and Chirag Shetty 15-21 22-20 25-23 and win the men’s doubles title.