ATP Finals: Zverev takes on Federer with eye on semi-final spot

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Alexander Zverev is never one to shy away from a tough task, even if that task is facing his idol Roger Federer at a tournament the Swiss has already won six times.

    With 16 years of age separating them, and a massive gulf in experience, Federer is naturally the favourite heading into their ATP Finals round-robin clash on Tuesday but a quick look at their head-to-head results could imply otherwise.

    The pair have split their previous four meetings – they are 1-1 against each other in 2017 – and Zverev triumphed in their most recent showdown, in the final in Montreal last August.Both Zverev and Federer can secure qualification to the semi-finals on Tuesday, and the young German is well aware of his chances.

    “I think anyone beating Federer in this group has a good chance of passing. But he’s the favourite definitely in all of the matches he plays,” said Zverev, who is making his first appearance at the ATP Finals.

    “I played him a few times this year now. I played him three times, if you count the Hopman Cup match we played. Obviously, all of them were great matches. Hopefully it can be another one.”

    Since Alex Corretja triumphed in Hanover in 1998, no ATP Finals debutant has won the title on their first appearance. It is a unique tournament that only features the top eight players in the world, competing in two round-robin groups.

    “It is different walking on here than any other stadium,” admitted Zverev following his opening match victory over Marin Cilic on Sunday.

    “The crowd, the atmosphere is amazing. The show before we walk on is something special. There were a lot of nerves involved in my first match. Obviously I’m happy that’s behind me. I’m happy that I won. I think the next matches will be not different but from a nerves perspective it will be much different for me.”

    Federer began his London campaign this week with a straight-sets win over Jack Sock. The Swiss world No.2 has grown accustomed to facing players who are much younger than he is and says it doesn’t bare much weight on any of his match-ups.

    • Semi-Final qualification scenarios

      Federer qualifies Tuesday if:

      – He defeats Zverev in straight sets

      – He defeats Zverev and Sock defeats Cilic

      Zverev qualifies on Tuesday if:

      – He defeats Federer and Cilic defeats Sock

    “Special, it’s not tougher. I’m used to it by now, playing against the young guy,” Federer told reporters at the O2 Arena in London.

    “Where I feel it is just like I can’t play 25 tournaments anymore, I mean I can, but I don’t know what the outcome will be. So I just choose to stay healthy and injury-free and this year I ended up playing much less than I thought I would because of the great start of the season, I didn’t have to push it that much to be quite honest, which is great. That’s where I feel it, the rest of it I feel good.”

    Federer has played just 11 tournaments this year heading into the ATP Finals and has won seven of them. He pulled out of the Paris Masters to rest before coming to London and he says he felt his best physically on Sunday against Sock, since his Basel final against Juan Martin del Potro three weeks ago.

    The 19-time Grand Slam champion also played the Laver Cup in September, a new team event he came up with, along with his agent Tony Godsick, that saw Federer share a squad with Zverev, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Marin Cilic and Tomas Berdych, all representing Team Europe.

    “I do feel like the Laver Cup has made us get to know each other a bit better,” says Federer.

    “I mean, we have each other’s telephone numbers now, all of us. That wasn’t the case beforehand. We anyway knew we’d see each other all the time, so it’s nice to kind of be able to connect if you wanted to with the guys.

    “I felt like at the ATP Finals ceremony and the official presentation, I did feel a sort of camaraderie, cool rivalry, but yet friendship going on, which I think is nice to see. We are all together on the boat. We’re all hanging out, all talking to each other. I’m not sure if that was always the case in previous years.

    “It’s not that we didn’t get along, but we didn’t know each other that well, to be quite frank. I see good things being carried over by the Laver Cup without forgetting at the end of the day we are rivals, as well, you know.”

    Recommended