Alexander Zverev’s father has revealed the reason behind
some consistent performances in the recent past. The 27-year-old is often
regarded as one of the best players currently playing in men’s tennis in the
singles category, along with the likes of Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Spain’s
Carlos Alcaraz.
Even though Zverev has not been able to win a Grand Slam in
his career, he has been one of the most consistent performers in the mega-event,
especially since the start of last year. Out of the last five events, he has
played in the semifinal or beyond on three occasions. The most recent of these
deep runs came in Melbourne this year, where he had a rough day and came second
best against the reigning world number one in straight sets with a score of
6-3, 7-6, 6-3.
It was the third time he ended up on the losing side in the final of a major competition. In 2020, he finished as the runner-up at the US
Open after losing to Dominic Thiem in a five-set thriller with a score of 2–6,
4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 7–6. Four years later, in 2024, Zverev once again lost in the
final of a Grand Slam, this time to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who lifted the
French Open after winning an epic five-set encounter with a score of 6–3, 2–6,
5–7, 6–1, 6–2. Zverev’s father has been recently quoted in a report by The Tennis
Gazette where he explained the reason behind his son’s consistent performances in
the recent past. He also revealed that, at times, his son has to ask authorities to let him train longer.
“He always wanted to play very well [until] the last point,
the last shot, and sometimes it lasted for 20-30 minutes. Sascha’s relationship
with training when he was very young was that it was very difficult for him to
leave the court, he just started crying that he also wants to play more, ‘I
still want to train’. Even now, already one of the leading players in the
world, he sometimes ends a night session at half past eleven or midnight and
asks the tournament organisers to let him play after the match for another
30-40 minutes. If specifically about training with Mischa and Sascha, I’ve
always been with them and it is very easy to train them. If they go out on the
court, they do everything 100 per cent, to the best of their abilities. The key
to success not only in sports but also in any other profession is good and
honest work. If he goes out on the court, it doesn’t matter on the court or in
the gym, he always does everything 100 per cent. I think this is the main key
to success and thanks to this he is now standing where he is.”