Honest assessment of Zverev from someone who dislikes him

ForehandCross

G.O.A.T.
1. He is actually meant to be an ATG, everything in his game (when it all clicks) indicates that.

2. The entire notion that he is some product of evolution and is some kind of second coming is based on false premises. There were already tall players who could do well from baseline. Del Potro a decade ago moved well, had a bigger and better FH, and as good a serve. Safin a little shorter, moved decent and was outstanding from the back of the court.

3.Zverev is a future ATG, but he really has only played few tournaments on that level. He is such a mental toast that in most of the matches he plays at 50% of his best. He just doesn't amount to "tough" Competition till now.

4. Zverev is a great potential, but I am baffled how ready some people are to put him on a pedestal greater than many, Murray for example was two times the player Zverev is and probably can be.


5. Zverev is bound to get some more wins against Big 3 now, and many are bound to insinuate that he would have ended Big 3 dominance in their heyday. But people need to remember that Big 3 destroyed great players' career, from Del Potro to Andy Murray to headcases like Nalbandian and Safin,heck even Thiem can say they took away the greatest wins of his career.
They would have squeezed dry Zverev even at his best.


6. All in all, Zverev is a top tier player, but people also overrate him. He is going to be an all surface threat soon. And he is definitely gonna win 3+ slams.
 

Rafa4LifeEver

G.O.A.T.
He definitely needs some work on his forehand though, its quite weird that sometimes he generates nadal-esque racquet head speed on low slices and crush them, whereas most of the times he is so passive with that shot, even on sitters. It shows that the potential is there, but its largely remains non optimised. Without improving the most important shot in modern baseline tennis in terms of dictating play and finishing points, I highly doubt Zverev can survive 7 BO5 matches. He NEEDS it to rescue him out of matches when that big serve isn't firing.
@JustMy2Cents
 

Kralingen

Talk Tennis Guru
I think, fairly or unfairly, the second someone born after 96 wins a slam which the big 3 play in is going to be looked at historically as the true end of Djokovic/Nadal’s peak. So they won’t get the full credit as much as taking advantage of Djokovic finally over the hill, or Rafa on his last legs. It’s crazy that at Zverev’s current age, Djokovic had his 2011 - Tsitsipas’ age, Nadal had 4 FO titles and an insane 2008, or even Sinner’s age of 19 Federer was beating Sampras at Wimbledon- these were top players at the ages that the top 5/6 heir apparents have yet to break through at.

For what it’s worth I think Tsitsipas and Zverev will both win quite a few slams, and the late 20s will play host to some of the most interesting Slams from a competitive perspective in recent memory. They’re just not ATGs and that’s ok.
 

socallefty

G.O.A.T.
He has an ATG-level game in most facets, but with a huge technique weakness with his 2nd serve - inconsistent toss, inconsistent decisions on what pace/spin to hit. This makes him choke at stressful points in long matches as his technique is not robust enough to withstand high-pressure moments. If he doesn’t fix it soon, he won‘t achieve even as much as Wawrinka or Guga in his career. If he fixes it, he could have a Becker-Edberg kind of career.

He is similar to Murray in that he plays too defensively from the baseline for a guy with the amount of firepower he has. Murray played more offensively for a few years when Lendl coached him and that‘s when he won his Slams. Zverev should also play more offensively from the baseline and not just try to outlast the top players in Slams.
 
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MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
Shockingly he's growing on me. He's starting to look good too lol. :unsure::love:

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Federer and Del Potro

Talk Tennis Guru
Also what are we defining as an ATG here? Because I've seen several people on here say Andy Murray is not an ATG.

And if that is the criteria Zverev is never sniffing any kind of ATG tag I don't think.

Because everything I've seen of Andy Murray throughout his prime and Alexander Zverev through his career thus far indicates to me Z would have been Andy's whipping boy. In fact the h2h is already 0-3 (if you count Hopman Cup) and Z lost to a fossilized Murray last year.
 

ForehandCross

G.O.A.T.
I termed Zverev as a potential ATG as in coming years he has the ability to win 5+ slams in coming years.

Keyword : potential. It may not turn to reality.
 

Third Serve

Talk Tennis Guru
Also what are we defining as an ATG here? Because I've seen several people on here say Andy Murray is not an ATG.

And if that is the criteria Zverev is never sniffing any kind of ATG tag I don't think.

Because everything I've seen of Andy Murray throughout his prime and Alexander Zverev through his career thus far indicates to me Z would have been Andy's whipping boy. In fact the h2h is already 0-3 (if you count Hopman Cup) and Z lost to a fossilized Murray last year.
Zverev lost to that version of Murray.

Zverev actually lost to a hobbled, post-surgeries, bionic-hip Murray.

Think about that.
 

Druss

Hall of Fame
Why are you guys so sure that the guy's never gonna get hurt or get exposed by the other dudes from his own Gen? That USO final was pathetic and he wasn't even facing one of the big 3. Do you really believe the rest of the tour isn't gonna smell blood once Fedalovic is gone for good?
That USO was dismal, but we can’t deny that first set and a half from Zverev was at a pretty decent level.
 

NAS

Hall of Fame
Why are you guys so sure that the guy's never gonna get hurt or get exposed by the other dudes from his own Gen? That USO final was pathetic and he wasn't even facing one of the big 3. Do you really believe the rest of the tour isn't gonna smell blood once Fedalovic is gone for good?
Actually final was bad because Zverev choked, in first two set he was performing good
 

D.Nalby12

G.O.A.T.
Why are you guys so sure that the guy's never gonna get hurt or get exposed by the other dudes from his own Gen? That USO final was pathetic and he wasn't even facing one of the big 3. Do you really believe the rest of the tour isn't gonna smell blood once Fedalovic is gone for good?

He sucks in Slams - that's his major problem. Still he is hard worker who keeps improving so I expect him pick one or two Slams in Murray fashion (unimpressive and opportunistic wins).
 

Clay lover

Legend
I think he has always had great power potential even on the forehand but he rarely crushes it against people not named Nadal. Without the second serve he is easily the most well-rounded of the "next" gen (although he's been around forever)
 

-snake-

Hall of Fame
I think he has always had great power potential even on the forehand but he rarely crushes it against people not named Nadal. Without the second serve he is easily the most well-rounded of the "next" gen (although he's been around forever)


He's a middle aged man already (in tennis terms).
 

Rosstour

G.O.A.T.
Zverev is a top ten player with the fastest average first serve on tour, and the lowest percentage of second serve points won on tour. That's a study in extremes and shows that the issues with his second serve are hiding a MONSTER game.
 

-snake-

Hall of Fame
Zverev is a top ten player with the fastest average first serve on tour, and the lowest percentage of second serve points won on tour. That's a study in extremes and shows that the issues with his second serve are hiding a MONSTER game.


So servebotting: Monster game?
 

Forehanderer

Professional
Exactly, so there is more to his game than serve. He can win without it. His defense is underrated IMO.
This. I would say his serve is weaker than his defense and ground game. Double faults are not a good indication of good serve even if he keeps his ace count and unreturnables high. He doesn't use the FH as a weapn too often. If he does, that would enhance his game. Anyway, if he has these faults and still wins 1000s, he has the potential to be an ATG. It all depends on his ability to improve that will determine if he reaches his potential. The final was good but there were brain fades from both players. So its not as good as per our expectations which were raised by the big 3.
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster

Arak

Legend
W
I thought so too lol but the facial hair/getting older is taking him to a new level :D People thought he was "hot" a few years ago... now THAT was gross lol.

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Zverev-victoire-OA-2021.jpeg
Well, I’m a straight guy, and I think he’s one of the better looking players on tour. He has also more charisma than most, and is an excellent speaker which shows good education and intelligence. As for his game, I think he will remain in the top 10 for a very long time, but whether he will win slams depends on him beating his mostly mental weaknesses. While not a big fan, I actually do not dislike him like many here do.
 

Forehanderer

Professional
There's a wing shortage :oops:

Go git yours. Its a crisis situation :eek::giggle:. One of those articles says "why chicken wings cost an arm and a leg" :oops: Hopefully there isn't a showdown at the ok corall type situation lol
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
W

Well, I’m a straight guy, and I think he’s one of the better looking players on tour. He has also more charisma than most, and is an excellent speaker which shows good education and intelligence. As for his game, I think he will remain in the top 10 for a very long time, but whether he will win slams depends on him beating his mostly mental weaknesses. While not a big fan, I actually do not dislike him like many here do.

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Double ewww from a straight woman! @MichaelNadal, have you ever seen Stephen Colbert do his doofus mockery of Eric Trump? He pulls his upper lip up and somehow makes it disappear and to me, it looks just like Zverev. :-D

Trust me I thought he was gross till like, this week lol. He's looking good in those chains and sleeveless lately.
 

-snake-

Hall of Fame
Exactly, so there is more to his game than serve. He can win without it. His defense is underrated IMO.









I any case, I'm not saying he's a mug with no talent, I'm just pointing out that his recent run was nothing that we haven't seen from him before. He's been racking up M1000 since 2017 and he should've vultured a couple of slams already.
 

ichaseballs

Professional
after watching the last us open finals (vs thiem) i was impressed and disgusted.
seeing him "booping" serves reminded me of JV high school tennis. (booping is the technical term, also known as "just get it in the box")
 

Forehanderer

Professional
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Trust me I thought he was gross till like, this week lol. He's looking good in those chains and sleeveless lately.
So if Berrettini and Thiem go sleeveless and start wearing chains, you'll like them too. No wonder you became a Nadal fan. What about Djokovic. :-D Even I can predict your response
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
So if Berrettini and Thiem go sleeveless and start wearing chains, you'll like them too. No wonder you became a Nadal fan. What about Djokovic. :-D Even I can predict your response

Never thought Nadal was hot, eww. Djokovic used to be but he looks like a goofy old skeleton now lol.
 

NatF

Bionic Poster
He has a terrible second serve, an inconsistent forehand, a middling return at best, no transition game and while his lateral movement is good he doesn't have great offensive footwork. Kinda sad that a guy like this is being touted as having such high potential.
 

Forehanderer

Professional
Never thought Nadal was hot, eww. Djokovic used to be but he looks like a goofy old skeleton now lol.
Hmmm interesting. Lots of girls find young nadal and federer attractive. Never found any girl call djokovic as attractive. You found young djoko attractive :unsure: I guess gays have a different taste than girls or maybe its just you lol
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
Hmmm interesting. Lots of girls find young nadal and federer attractive. Never found any girl call djokovic as attractive. You found young djoko attractive :unsure: I guess gays have a different taste than girls or maybe its just you lol

Yeah Fed and Nadal both look weird lol. Novak had his moments at least.

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:-D
 

aldeayeah

G.O.A.T.
Never thought Nadal was hot, eww. Djokovic used to be but he looks like a goofy old skeleton now lol.
Once Nadal shed the baby fat he lost his early awkward cuteness hahaha

Djokovic I could never find cute. He has a difficult face on a post-like neck.

Zverev is objectively good-looking IMO (although gangly as hell), but he should smile more and quit whining to be tolerable.
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
Once Nadal shed the baby fat he lost his early awkward cuteness hahaha

Djokovic I could never find cute. He has a difficult face on a post-like neck.

Zverev is objectively good-looking IMO (although gangly as hell), but he should smile more and quit whining to be tolerable.


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