In flip-flops, Alexander Zverev stepped outside to the Media Garden, which sounds more grand than it is. A few chairs and tables are scattered in front of the media center, and a few bushes are apparently enough for the American Tennis Association (USTA) to declare the small area a garden landscape. The USTA, which hosts the US Open, has a sense of humor.
Zverev took a seat on a stool, and then told the Sky Sports interviewer again the essentials of his earlier performance. At first, he had been “not aggressive enough,” as Zverev lost the first set 3:6. But from the second set, he started “taking the ball earlier,” and from that point on, it went so well that he concluded: “The last three sets were the best I have played in this tournament.”
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He was not asked about the strange creatures that suddenly troubled the people in the Louis Armstrong Stadium, the second-largest arena, and it wasn’t necessary. Zverev had already explained in the German part of the press conference how surprised he too had been. “They were so huge, I’ve never seen anything like that before,” he reported: “I have no idea what they were. No mosquitoes, no bees, or anything like we are used to in Indian Wells. I don’t know what it was, flying ants, no idea.” The so-called Spotted Lanternfly was responsible, extremely annoying creatures that couldn’t prevent Zverev’s solid 3:6, 6:1, 6:2, 6:2 victory over Brandon Nakashima from the USA, who played too conservatively from the second set onwards. What headlines that could have generated otherwise: Zverev sinks in the killer attack of the spotted lanternfly.
Zverev reaches the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tournament for the 13th time
Everything was fine, relaxed, friendly, and communicative; Zverev has improved significantly compared to earlier times. He had to learn that media people are not just enemies. He has simply matured with age and thus knows how to handle the current situation effortlessly. Zverev reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tournament for the 13th time, the fourth time in New York. $487,000 in prize money, so the fee scale in tennis has skyrocketed, is secure for the 27-year-old. Others would yearn for such a record. Zverev understandably does not: “I still want to realize some of my dreams.” One of those primarily includes a tiny little Grand Slam title that the world number four still lacks.
It is striking how relaxed Zverev is these days about the shadow experiences of the past. He had been on the brink of victory twice, four years ago at the US Open, he was just two tiny points away in the final against Austria’s Dominic Thiem. Then in 2022, he claimed he played the best tennis of his career, having given Rafael Nadal a tough challenge in the French Open semi-finals; he could have risen to number one – a twist of the ankle, seven ligament tears in his right ankle, that marked the end of that endeavor as well. In June of this year, he would have risen to winner of the French Open if he had just snatched one of the last two played sets from Spanish artist Carlos Alcaraz; he lost in five sets.
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Zverev, and perhaps this distinguishes potential champions, can put events behind him well: What happened, happened, and he enjoyed the status quo in New York on Sunday evening as if the demons of failed attempts had never existed. “I’m happy with the level at which I’m playing tennis,” he said, adding: “I’m happy with where I stand, especially after the injury.”
In the quarter-final, which also aligns fateful with his story, Zverev now faces the youngest demon who recently burst his dream. In the Wimbledon quarter-finals, having injured his knee after a fall in the previous round, he lost to American Taylor Fritz despite leading 2:0 in sets, after which he voiced doubts never heard before. “At some point, you really begin to believe that maybe it’s not meant for you,” he said just seven weeks ago. However, he seems to have truly shaken off those thoughts; his confidence is back.
Now it’s against Taylor Fritz – the American is also longing for a big title
“I’m looking forward to a new tough battle,” Zverev said, looking ahead to the match against Fritz: “That’s an opponent I know well. We’ve had some fantastic matches.” Zverev leads 5:4 in his head-to-head with Fritz. Let’s see what he says this time; at Wimbledon, there was still a bit of salt added: Some people in Fritz’s box behaved so rudely on the sacred Centre Court at the All England Club that Zverev immediately expressed his displeasure over it while shaking hands at the net.
World number twelve Fritz, who reached the final in Munich in April, finds himself in a similar position to Zverev, which makes the duel even more intriguing. “I’ve reached a point where I’m still happy to reach the quarter-finals, but I wouldn’t be happy if it ends here,” said the 26-year-old about his ambitions: “I’m definitely at a point where I really want more than that.” Additionally, Fritz faces the pressure of home expectations; the last American to win the US Open men’s singles was Andy Roddick in 2003. Since then, the trophies have predominantly gone to Europe, to gentlemen like Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic.
The crux is that either Zverev or Fritz’s journey comes to an end; the winner on Tuesday has the prospect of standing in the final with just one more victory. But Zverev does not want to look that far; he just doesn’t want to awaken any demons. “Next up is Taylor Fritz,” he stated determinedly, “that’s the only thing that interests me.”