In terms of sport, things are going according to plan for Alexander Zverev in Wimbledon so far, but off the court the Olympic tennis champion is not yet satisfied with the classic lawn. After criticizing the organizers for the controversial appointments after his opening win, he quarreled with his own coaching team after his success in the second round against the Japanese lucky loser Yosuke Watanuki.
“I had a bit of a neck on my box because we hadn’t discussed anything before the match,” said Zverev after the four-set win, in which he wasn’t in serious danger, but was on the pitch longer than desired. “Of course, he’s a lucky loser. Of course, if I play well, I play better. But everyone leaned back a bit and you can’t do that in a Grand Slam,” Zverev criticized his personal environment.
“Coaching team didn’t do a good job”
Zverev is trained by his father Alexander Senior, his brother Mischa acts as manager. In addition, his buddy Sergei Bubka Junior is another manager and his long-time physiotherapist Hugo Gravil is in the box, from which girlfriend Sophia Thomalla is also watching.
“I came on the pitch and it was a complete surprise for me that he served at 135 mph (217 km/h) and hit me with two aces in the first service game,” said Zverev. “I had no idea about it. And those are things that I would like to take with me onto the pitch. My coaching team didn’t do a good job in that regard today.”
Third round match against Italy’s Berrettini
Normally his sparring partner Tobias Kamke is responsible for scouting the opponent. However, the ex-professional is not in Wimbledon because he plays in the Bundesliga in Germany. He himself had not previously viewed the Japanese on YouTube. He tries to spend as little time as possible on the cell phone at Grand Slam tournaments “to protect my eyes and so that my concentration is there,” said Zverev.
Zverev did not say whether there would be normal preparation before the third round match against Italian Matteo Berrettini today. The advantage is that Zverev knows the 2021 Wimbledon finalist well. Zverev won four of five duels. In addition, both trained together in the run-up to Wimbledon. “He’s one of the best lawn players there is. It’s going to be difficult,” Zverev said without any special preparation.
