Sascha Zverev: Roger and Rafa have been playing the best tennis of their lives this year

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  • Just a man and his idol: Zverev and Federer.

    This year may have been dominated by two all-star veterans – Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal – but the next two players in line, Alexander Zverev and Dominic Thiem, are from the younger generation the tennis world has been waiting for.

    It seems fitting that Federer and Zverev have landed in the same group. One is a 36-year-old six-time champion at the event. The other is a 20-year-old making his tournament debut. The contrast is huge yet they are 1-1 head-to-head this season and 2-2 overall.

    Zverev grew up idolising Federer and met the Swiss when he was just five years-old asking him for an autograph at the Hamburg Masters. Today, they are peers in the Group Boris Becker at a tournament celebrating the eight best players of the season.

    The world No.3 remains in awe of Federer, who took his tally of Grand Slam finals to 19 this season by winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon, despite missing six months of action at the end of last year due to injury.

    Nadal has also won two majors in 2017, and returned to No.1 in the world rankings.

    “I think Roger and Rafa have been playing the best tennis of their lives this year. I really think that, especially Roger,” said Zverev, who won the Rome Masters by beating Novak Djokovic in the final, and Montreal by defeating Federer.

    “He’s only lost four matches this year. It’s quite amazing how he’s able to play at 36 years-old; I’m not saying he’s old or anything.

    “What he’s doing on the tennis court is amazing.

    “Also Rafa, how he came back and played the clay-court season was unbelievable. The most he lost in a set in the French Open was three games. Winning a Grand Slam losing three games in a set, max, is something that I don’t know if we’ve seen before.

    “All of us are working hard to try to replace them a little bit.

    “This is what we’re all working for, to win the biggest tournaments in the world. I’ve won two Masters this year. I’m still working on Grand Slams.

    “At the moment what they’re doing on the tennis court is amazing.”

    Federer could not compete in London last year as he was out of action with physical problems and he won the last of his six titles at the event in 2011.

    The Swiss started the year ranked 17 in the world due to his extended break in 2016 but stunningly claimed the Australian Open on his first official tournament back.

    “Last year I couldn’t be here so it’s nice to be able to do it again because this year I had to start further back in the rankings,” said Federer on Friday.

    “The early goal was to be maybe halfway point, before or after Wimbledon, around eight in the world or something but that was always going to maybe put me in an interesting situation for the rest of the year trying to qualify for the World Tour Finals.

    “So by winning the Australian Open, pretty much I was in a good position throughout after that. I was very happy how I played throughout the entire season, stayed pretty much injury-free apart from the back issue in Montreal that carried over a bit but I played great and I’m very happy to be here again and get a chance to compete with the best.”

    Federer begins his campaign on Sunday against ATP Finals debutant Jack Sock while Zverev takes on Wimbledon runner-up Marin Cilic.

    Cilic hit a career-high ranking of No.4 in the world last month and is making his third ATP Finals appearance.

    “The year has been extremely consistent for me,” said the Croatian.

    “I played great tennis and I found that key in my own game to play on a good level almost every single week. I had a lot of victories in the last six, seven months that has given me good confidence, and good belief when I’m playing the top guys, which is very important here.”

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