World champion, Olympic champion, six tournament victories in total – tennis star Alexander Zverev (24) has had a mega year. In addition, the private happiness with his new girlfriend Sophia Thomalla (32).
After the Turtel vacation with his loved one, it is now time to prepare for the coming season. And Zverev really wants to – also because of the new support at his side: “Sophia is someone who gives me peace and security. I play extremely well with her in my back and I hope that will continue to be the case next year and maybe even get better. I haven’t achieved all of my goals yet, “said the world number three in an interview with the”tennis MAGAZINE“.
A professional relationship with which he was not happy, on the other hand, was that with ex-trainer Ivan Lendl (autumn 2018 to summer 2019). Zverev clarifies: “It didn’t work well with Lendl. It’s not a secret. Personally, we may not have been a good match either. We just saw things differently on the tennis court, during training sessions. I am someone in my sport too, I am a personality. I’m not someone who says yes and amen to everything. ”
And further: “You can’t come into my team and turn my life and career upside down just because you have a different opinion than me.” Zverev clearly: “Dad is better than Lendl. For me that’s not a question at all. ”
For him, the best in tennis history is neither Roger Federer (40) nor Rafael Nadal (35). But Novak Djokovic (34).
Zverev: “He was number one in the world for most of the weeks and finished most years as number one, Novak has won most of the Masters titles and much more. You can’t always go against the numbers and say that Roger or Rafa are better because we’ve all been fans of them from an early age. Sometimes you have to look at things realistically and Novak’s records are simply a fact. “
While his ex-manager Patricio Apey wanted to market him more as an international star, Zverev is now placing more value on the German market: “I was born in Germany, I grew up there, I’m German (…) I have things myself taken in hand. It used to be said you would do this interview or you would perform there. Now it is so that I decide for myself. Germany is important because children see me as a role model and are starting to be interested in tennis. “
Zverev is confident about the violence investigation against him, which was started after the allegations of his ex-girlfriend Olga Scharypova: “As for the ATP investigation: I am sure that it will be settled relatively soon. We are also taking legal action in Russia against people who accuse me of evil. The truth always comes out. “
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