Berlin – Olympic champion Alexander Zverev is proud to be competing for Germany at the Davis Cup in Brazil: “Playing for my home country is always very important to me and I am proud to represent Germany. “
“Together with the team, I have the big goal of winning the Davis Cup one day,” said the tennis player in an interview with the German Tennis Federation (DTB). Zverev had been re-nominated for the Cup after his disqualification at the ATP tournament in Acapulco.
“South America is always something special “
The German team has a lot of potential and does not have to hide, said the 24-year-old. Nevertheless, the duel against Brazil will be tough. “We expect a lot of spectators. South America is always something special” said Zverev. “I think we should be aware that we have to play our best to get into the group stage.”
Brazilian doubles specialist Bruno Soares had already announced a “hot” encounter. “We will play in Rio, in the heat, on clay,” Soares told the German Press Agency. In addition, Soares, who has several Grand Slam titles in doubles to his credit, is counting on the vociferous support of the Brazilian public.
Brazilian Soares: “It will be loud”.
At the Rio Open about ten days ago, family members and friends who had travelled from his home state of Minas Gerais made the atmosphere loud. “Some of my friends will also be there against Germany, and I’m trying to convince others,” Soares announced jokingly. “It’s going to be loud.”
Brazil will host the German Davis Cup team at Rio’s Olympic Park on 4 and 5 March. The hosts have nominated the best possible team with doubles specialists Bruno Soares and Marcelo Melo as well as Thiago Monteiro, Thiago Wild and Felipe Meligeni.
With a view to the war in Ukraine, however, sport takes a back seat. “In these times, you realise once again that there are more important things in life than tennis,” said Zverev, who was born in Hamburg. The most important thing, he said, is that peace prevails in the world. “Sport and the Davis Cup can always set an example for peaceful coexistence in the world.