Rio de Janeiro – Olympic champion Alexander Zverev has led the German men’s tennis team into the group stage of the Davis Cup, but at first he was not really happy about it.
After defeating Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro 6-1, 7-5 in the top singles match, the 24-year-old disappeared in a hurry from Centre Court at Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic Park on Saturday evening. “We were booed here all the time, at some point it was enough,” said Zverev, explaining his lack of jubilation on the court.
The 24-year-old was particularly upset by the fact that he felt repeatedly insulted by part of the audience. “The spectators crossed a line,” Zverev said. “You can hate me, dislike me. But when it’s against your family or against someone you love, then a line is crossed,” Zverev said. “And that was crossed in virtually every single game here today. “
“This is Acapulco”
A week and a half after his freak-out at the ATP tournament in Acapulco, the events of Mexico also caught up with him. “Here is Acapulco,” some fans shouted, alluding to his disqualification last week from the middle of the second set. In Acapulco, Zverev had hit the umpire’s chair several times with his tennis racket after losing a doubles match, almost hitting the referee in the foot. Zverev was then excluded from the tournament and fined. In addition, the ATP men’s organisation is still investigating him.
After the events in Acapulco, Zverev had decided at very short notice to make his comeback in the Davis Cup. Probably also to polish up his tattered image. And from a sporting point of view, the world number three succeeded all along the line. After his clear two-set victory over Thiago Seyboth Wild on Friday, he gave Monteiro no chance from the start. Zverev managed a fast break, after only 32 minutes he secured the first set.
Monteiro then put up more resistance in the second set. At 4:5, Zverev even had to fend off a set point, and the crowd was noisy again – and not always fair. But Zverev remained calm on the court and with the first match point made the victory and advancement perfect. The fifth singles match was not played after the decision.
Pütz: “Very decisive match”.
Before Zverev’s second victory, Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz had put the German team on the winning track. The German doubles team won against Felipe Meligeni Rodrigues Alves and Bruno Soares 4:6, 7:6 (7:4), 6:4. “I think that was a very decisive match,” said Pütz. The German duo improved after losing the first set and kept their nerves in the decisive phases.
“After the semi-finals last year, we really wanted to get back into the group stage. That was the minimum goal,” said team manager Michael Kohlmann with satisfaction. The group stage will take place in September at four venues yet to be determined. The German Tennis Federation is also considering a bid to host a group. The final round has so far been scheduled for November.
