The young German was sent home by an inspired Fernando Verdasco. After enjoying a breakthrough season in the first five months of the year, Zverev will now have to face the responsibility that comes with being an elite player.
PARIS – Day three at the French Open saw the shocking first-round elimination of world’s No. 10 player Alexander “Sascha” Zverev, who many considered as one of the main contenders to win the title. Zverev has enjoyed a breakthrough season so far in 2017, capturing his first Masters 1000 title in Rome and entering the top ten at only 20 years of age. Based on how quickly the German became part of the elite group of players at the top of the game, tennis analysts predict that he will soon become world No. 1. The bookmakers included Zverev among the top favourites to win the title in Paris, behind Nadal, Djokovic and Wawrinka. A first-round elimination was certainly not in the cards for the young rising star.
This is the first time in the Open Era – i.e. since 1968 – that the Rome champion exited in the first round in Paris. Adriano Panatta came close in 1976 when he saved a match point against the Czech Hutka with a phenomenal diving volley. After surviving that first-round scare, Panatta ended up winning the title.
In Zverev’s defence, it is fair to say that his first-round opponent represented a dangerous challenge. Fernando Verdasco of Spain is now 33 years of age and ranked No. 37 in the world, but he has been as high as No. 7 in the past. The match was suspended on Monday night due to darkness when the score was 1 set a piece. When play resumed on a hot Tuesday afternoon, Verdasco finished off his young opponent 6-4,3-6,6-4,6-2. Many wondered if the German felt the pressure due to the weight of expectation that comes when becoming a top ten player. “I lost because I played a horrible match. The explanation is just as simple as that,” said Zverev in his post-match press conference. A reporter asked him if he was bothered by the fact that Verdasco is left-handed. “No way, I grew up playing with my brother, who is a lefty as well,” explained the German.
(Article translation provided by T&L Global – Translation & Language Solutions – www.t-lglobal.com )
