Alexander Zverev secured the biggest victory of his tennis career yesterday when he beat Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the 2018 ATP Finals.
The 21-year-old German stunned world No.1 Djokovic 6-4, 6-3 in the final at The O2 to end his year on a high. The ATP Finals success adds to his 2018 season wins in Washington, Munich and the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 in Madrid.
Zverev, who also beat Roger Federer in the semi-finals in London, said: “I’m unbelievably happy. Obviously it is the biggest title I have ever won. How I played, how I won it, for me it’s just amazing.
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“It’s quite astonishing, winning this title, beating two such players back-to-back, Roger [Federer] and Novak [Djokovic], in semi-finals and final. It means so much. I’m incredibly happy and incredibly proud of this moment right now.”
After finishing the year ranked No.4 in the world, can Zverev now take the next step and battle for grand slam titles against tennis big guns Djokovic, Federer and Rafael Nadal?
‘Big moment for tennis’
Boris Becker says his fellow German’s victory over world No.1 Djokovic has marked the arrival of a “new superstar in tennis”.
Six-time grand slam champion Becker, who was working as a BBC Sport commentator at the ATP Finals, said: “Alexander Zverev winning the ATP Finals is a moment which the whole tennis world has been waiting for.
“For years we have been saying tennis needs new faces and strong new players – and he has proved he is the best of the next generation.
“Beating Novak Djokovic in the final was a big upset and a big victory for Sascha [Zverev]. It was the big match which we were all waiting for from him.
“Yes, he has won three Masters 1000 titles before, and has beaten Djokovic and Federer before, but to beat Novak and Roger back to back in one of the biggest tournaments in the world tells him, most importantly, but also the world, that he is going to be the next big thing.
“The world saw a new superstar in tennis arrive on Sunday.”
Be patient
Writing in Metro, George Bellshaw agrees that Zverev is the future of men’s tennis but says “don’t expect miracles in 2019”.
Bellshaw writes: “For all the talent the German possesses, he has only reached one major quarter-final – and he was thumped in straight sets by Dominic Thiem at the French Open as his body seized up following the rigours of three consecutive five-setters. To that end, expectations for 2019 must be tempered.”
Next big rivalry?
After years of the Nadal-Federer-Djokovic dominance could tennis fans be set to see a new rivalry emerging in the men’s game?
While Zverev was victorious at the ATP Finals in London, Greek 20-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas won the Next Gen Finals in Milan. The Daily Telegraph’s Tennis Podcast team believes these two stars could emerge as the next big rivalry.
Speaking on the Tennis Podcast, Catherine Whitaker said: “I am so ready for Zverev vs. Tsitsipas. All of the current rivalries are great, but we need some McEnroe vs. Connors aggravation in the sport. Bring it on.”
Changing of the guard
Zverev himself says that the younger stars are ready to take on Djokovic (31), Nadal (32) and Federer (37). The German said: “Us young guys, we’re coming through. [Karen] Khachanov winning the Masters in Paris was a big thing. I was very happy for him, as well.
“I wasn’t happy that he beat me, but I was happy for the victory that he had because I’m quite good friends with him. The victory for [Stefanos] Tsitsipas in Toronto, I felt like Novak wasn’t playing his best there, but obviously all the credit to Tsitsipas. You have to beat someone like Novak because he’s not going to give you the match.”
Let’s chill out...
However, Zverev did play down talk that he could one day match the career success of Djokovic, who has won 72 tournaments including 14 grand slams and five ATP Finals.
“Oh, Jesus. Oh my God. God. I mean I won one of those, he won five,” said Zverev. “He’s won, I don’t know what, 148 more titles than me, so let’s not go there for now. I hope I can be great, but let’s chill out for a little bit.”
