Zverev Gunning for Grand Slam Glory in 2019

Is Sascha Zvere the next one?

Zverev

Of the last 47 Men’s tennis Grand Slam finals, only eight have been won by players outside the ‘big four’ such as Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray. Three of those were won by Stan Wawrinka (who could perhaps feel aggrieved for not being included in a ‘big five’), leaving just five other winners since Wimbledon 2003.

Those stats highlight just how hard it has been to win a Grand Slam in this era, but with the careers of the big four now winding down, the chances of a new Grand Slam champion being crowned in 2019 have increased. Many expect that man to be Alexander Zverev, but can the 2018 ATP Finals winner convert his good form into a Grand Slam victory?

Favourite with the bookmakers to lead the next generation

The 21-year-old has the potential to be a leading figure in the men’s game and is one of a handful of players tipped to be part of a new golden generation. Karen Khachanov, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Daniil Medvedev have also set tongues wagging and will be amongst those to watch on the ATP tour this year.

Some betting sites in the UK have priced Zverev as low as 13/2 to end the season as world number one. If he is to achieve that, he will have to pick up at least one major along the way. His preparations for the Australian Open were dealt a blow after he picked a hamstring injury in training, limiting his chances of bettering last year’s journey to the third round. However, he is still priced at 12/1 to win the event.

With the Aussie Open coming too soon for the recovering German, the French Open at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris looks a more realistic target. The Hamburg-born pro enjoyed his best ever Grand Slam finish on the clay courts reaching the quarter-final stage last year, and two of his three Masters wins came on clay. He is currently priced at 11/1 to triumph in Paris.

Hard Court success

Zverev’s next best chance of a Slam is the US Open. He has won six of the seven professional titles he has played on a hard court, including the prestigious Rogers Cup (Canada), where he defeated Roger Federer in 2017. A price of 12/1 to win the US Open looks fair considering he has yet to progress beyond the third round in New York.

Zverev
IMG_3567” (CC BY-ND 2.0) by Marianne Bevis

All-court player

Zverev has yet to win a title on grass, although as a teenager, he beat Federer at the Halle Open. In 2017, he reached the fourth round of Wimbledon, enjoying a fairly straightforward route to that stage before finally running out of steam in five sets against Milos Raonic. Despite his lack of a victory on grass, Zverev believes he is capable of dominating on any surface and does not focus on one.

He has won 58.5% of his best-of-five set matches compared with 64% of his best-of-three set encounters. However, he has won five of the last six five-setters suggesting his stamina is improving with age.

Whatever he achieves in 2019, Alexander Zverev is set to be one of the biggest names in tennis in the coming years.

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