Alexander Zverev failing to live up to 'best of his generation' tag after Australian Open meltdown

AP
Paul Newman21 January 2019

Alexander Zverev’s performance at the Australian Open is likely to become a hit on YouTube and social media, but the 21-year-old German is unlikely to enjoy watching it.

Zverev joined the ranks of the most memorable racket-smashers as he sank today to one of the most dispiriting defeats of his career.

Just two months after his biggest triumph, winning the ATP Finals, Zverev was crushed 6-1, 6-1, 7-6 by Milos Raonic in the fourth round here as his run of disappointments in Grand Slam tournaments continued.

The world No4 vented his anger after going 4-1 down in the second set. Sitting in his chair, Zverev pummelled his racket into the ground eight times before hurling it to one side. “It made me feel better,” he said. “I was very angry, so I let my anger out.”

He added: “The first two sets especially I played horrible. It’s tough to name one thing. I didn’t serve well, didn’t play well from the baseline.”

In Pictures | Australian Open Tennis 2019

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Zverev’s 2018 ended spectacularly when he beat Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic in successive matches to win the year-end title at the O2 in London. However, playing to the last day of the regular season meant he had a shorter break than usual.

Following a holiday in the Maldives, Zverev posted pictures from the gym in Monte Carlo 17 days after his London victory and in Australia preparing for his first tournament of the season only 19 days later. “For sure I didn’t have a lot of rest,” said Zverev. “But this is us as tennis players. I’m happy how the season ended. I wouldn’t want it the other way.”

Until now Zverev has been regarded as the best player of his generation, but his struggles in Grand Slams might change that. In 15 appearances he has reached just one quarter-final.

Frustration: Alexander Zverev need a replacement racket after smashing his first one to pieces.
AFP/Getty Images

That run never looked like ending here. Zverev improved in the third set, but world No17 Raonic won the tie-break 7-5. “It was a miracle I reached the tie-break and even if I had won it I don’t think I would have won the match,” said Zverev, who added: “It’s fine. If I think it’s the end of the world every time I lose a tennis match, I would be very depressed about 15 to 20 times a year, so I’m not going to do that.”

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