What's Wrong With Zverev?

[nochweiterroger]

I see he's just lost another mid week match. I'm not particularly a fan, but he was announced as the next big thing yet something is very wrong. What? I'm not interested in hearing how he's too tall and doesn't have a decent forehand, blah, blah, blah, I think there must be something emotional, personality wise, psychological as well. He seems to be turning into a total flake.
Perhaps the banal answer will be just that he's been ill/injured. But I somehow think it's more than that.

 

[uscwang]

Let's see if Lendl sticks around.
Zverev carries a big target on his back, being ranked in the Top 4. Everybody wants to be in his quarter.

 

[Red Rick]

Alexander believes in Anyone But Zverev @ak24alive @Federer and Del Potro @paranoidandroid

 

[Shaolin]

Everything.

 

[wangs78]

At the end of the day, to be really, really, consistently good, I think you still need to be 6' 2" or under. These big guys of 6' 4" and above are moving better than ever but defense will never be their forte, and on a day when your offense is crap you need defense to pull you through, and someone like Zverev just doesn't have it.

 

[Red Rick]

zvrv

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

He’s bad.

 

[raph6]

IMO the problem was first related to its game and it has now become also psychological. I think he is not agressive enough with a too big margin serve and a passive baseline game and now, from defeats to defeats, he feels the pressure of his ranking and of the medias.

When he had his breakthrough on the ATP tour, he was the only successful young player and the ATP and the medias talked about him as the next big thing. Right now, he must feel that things don't go this way and that he has not the trajectory of a future champion and he is probably mad about that.

 

[True Fanerer]

He's still sad about Dwayne Wade retiring.

 

[tudwell]

Let's see if Lendl sticks around.
Zverev carries a big target on his back, being ranked in the Top 4. Everybody wants to be in his quarter.

Lucky for him, he won't be in the top 4 in a couple months after he loses all his clay points!

 

[Sport]

He'x Zverev.

 

[tudwell]

At the end of the day, to be really, really, consistently good, I think you still need to be 6' 2" or under. These big guys of 6' 4" and above are moving better than ever but defense will never be their forte, and on a day when your offense is crap you need defense to pull you through, and someone like Zverev just doesn't have it.

I think there's some truth to this. I think the serve and power that come almost automatically with being tall have helped guys like Zverev, Khachanov, and Medvedev have some early success, but they probably have a lower ceiling than (somewhat) shorter guys like FAA, Tsitsipas, or Shapovalov. Though I don't think 6'2" is the top height anymore. Lots of guys taller move extraordinary these days. But 6'6" might still be just a little too tall to be the next dominant force.

 

[Red Rick]

At the end of the day, to be really, really, consistently good, I think you still need to be 6' 2" or under. These big guys of 6' 4" and above are moving better than ever but defense will never be their forte, and on a day when your offense is crap you need defense to pull you through, and someone like Zverev just doesn't have it.

Height isn't the problem.

In fact, Zverev would not be anything special if he were 6'1. He'd be a clay courter with no forehand.

 

[EloQuent]

He's been the Next Big Thing for two years now. I remember profiles written about him as a contender for US Open 2017. He lost in R1 or R2.

Probably a combination of not really being that good (taking advantage of the weak field, facing the B3 in their old age), being lazy, and not having the goods in slams.

 

[Pheasant]

Sasha has the physical tools to be extremely dangerous. But mentally, he isn’t there yet. He played gangbuster tennis when he took out Federer and Djoker back-to-back to win the WTF. He walked home with over 2 million bucks.

 

[duaneeo]

I see he's just lost another mid week match.

When he wins: Who cares, it's not a slam.

So who cares he lost. It's not a slam.

 

[timnz]

He won the WTF beating Djokovic last November. He has huge potential. Sometimes young guys take time to get consistency.

 

[MeatTornado]

I remember profiles written about him as a contender for US Open 2017. He lost in R1 or R2.

He's still undefeated in high socks.

He lost as soon as he ditched them the next round. Maybe that's the key to all this?

 

[Red Rick]

He's still undefeated in high socks.

He lost as soon as he ditched them the next round. Maybe that's the key to all this?

He doesn't nearly get enough retroactive hate for that.

 

[Standaa]

Besides almost everything?

 

[Rosstour]

The pressure on him is immense and he now sees guys like Tsits, FAA, etc closing in. Being "The Anointed" usually ends up crushing you.

He's a good player but we get too excited and tend to jinx people by saying "he's gonna be around a long, long time" or "he's DEFINITELY gonna be a future champion".

 

[mental midget]

he lost to munar right? that guys is real good on clay for one thing.

also—zverev is a great player but anointing him the next big thing is a tough burden. the list of guys who “almost never lose to guys they’re supposed to beat” is very very very short. true dominators: fed, rafa, novak....mac 84...borg, lendl...

 

[Red Rick]

The pressure on him is immense and he now sees guys like Tsits, FAA, etc closing in. Being "The Anointed" usually ends up crushing you.

He's a good player but we get too excited and tend to jinx people by saying "he's gonna be around a long, long time" or "he's DEFINITELY gonna be a future champion".

Can't remember anyone being excited about Zverev at any point.

AND DON'T LINK ME TO THAT THREAD @ak24alive

 

[mike danny]

I think it's pressure. He feels he has to perform as well as ever now to reignite the hype around him.

Think about it: it was easier in 2017 when he was the only young player performing well because he knew the attention wouldn't be directed towards another youngster.

But now? With Tsitsipas and most recently FAA making noise, most people start turning to them since they are also young and can still live up to their potential. This has caused the attention to shift from Zverev to them. Zverev constantly underperforming in slams didn't help matters either as people are growing tired of his shortcomings, while Tsitsipas and FAA can still hope to not disappoint.

So Zverev is bummed that he is no longer venerated as much as he used to be. And that annoys him which puts pressure on him to perform well to reignite the hype.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[mike danny]

I think one slsm SF will put him back on track. But given his track record in slams, eh...

 

[Wander]

Forehand isn't good enough. Mental fortitude isn't good enough.

 

[Meles]

I see he's just lost another mid week match. I'm not particularly a fan, but he was announced as the next big thing yet something is very wrong. What? I'm not interested in hearing how he's too tall and doesn't have a decent forehand, blah, blah, blah, I think there must be something emotional, personality wise, psychological as well. He seems to be turning into a total flake.
Perhaps the banal answer will be just that he's been ill/injured. But I somehow think it's more than that.

Nothing is wrong with him that wasn't much the same last year at this time when he nearly won three tournaments in a row on clay, so all above posts predicting his imminent demise basically titanic class thinking all too typical on TTW when it comes to betting against younger players (Zverev still just 21). Zverev just did just take out Fed and Djoko back to back at WTF so he'll come around just fine.

Zverev looked good enough at Marrakech to find form at Monte-Carlo. He's playing this week due to unexpected early exit at Miami and it is a great move for Monte-Carlo. He's gotten some time on clay without too much wear for next week and he'll have more than a chance next week with Nadal's form likely to be his weakest of the season on clay. Adding this event was a natural because his brother was already playing so just easy to go and get in a few matches.

By the way the thread title should be more What's Right with Munar. Munar served quite well and the match and his hard hitting strategy worked with Zverev today. Zverev generally has trouble with really great movers and Munar was up to the task.

 

[timnz]

Forehand isn't good enough. Mental fortitude isn't good enough.

Maybe Lendl can teach him how to hit a forehand. Lendl having one of the greatest forehands of all time.

 

[yokied]

The forehand. This is the main shot, offensive and defensive, in tennis and he can't rely on it. It is exceptionally difficult, basically impossible, to win slams and stay comfortable at the top of the game without a good forehand and without basing your game on looking to hit it rather than running away from it. Everything else will fall into place when he sorts this out.

The serve also collapses under pressure but that will hold up better when he has confidence in his game and matures a little. His psychological strength will improve over time. He's still young. He's never going to be an artist. He needs to accept that he's going to be a fighter, that he is going to get punched a bit when he's in a fight and not panic when he does lose a few points/games or a set in a strange way.

The backhand is fairly flat and readable with very little left to develop. It clearly doesn't do enough damage and never will win him slams.

 

[game..set..match]

and what's even worse, he lost to one of the all time worst grunters on tour. that guy's grunting is truly a disgrace to the sport of tennis.

 

[Noletheking]

Height isn't the problem.

In fact, Zverev would not be anything special if he were 6'1. He'd be a clay courter with no forehand.

I understand your dislike for Zverev but he has most complete game out of any next gen. He can return good, can serve good, good bh and even good serve. His problem is he needs to be bit more aggressive , make his serve a weapon (it's good now not that good) and improve his fH.

 

[BGod]

He peaked.

 

[Rogfan]

It’s not easy to be the head of the pack. Everyone is going for you, to chase you, dethrone you, catch and break your records. He’s unlucky in the sense that he’s the oldest of the next gen (I know he believes he doesn’t belong to them. But age wise he’s still one of them) and the one who has achieved the most earliest. Inevitably he’s now feelin grow huge pressure when others are catching up. His poor performance is slams really hasn’t helped. He has to deal with this mental demon bit time.

Which really shows how great Roger is when he’s been constantly chased by three ATGs for over a decade now. He’s still leading the pack holding his head high, despite losing H2h to his two main rivals.

 

[King No1e]

It's just a 250. He'll be okay.
If he does this in MC then we can freak out. Not now.

 

[EloQuent]

If When he does this in MC then we can freak out.

 

[Luka888]

Munar played well and yes Zverev's FH is a huge liability. Zverev can't perform well at GS. It's not just him but also all youngsters in general. Also, he thinks he is a big star, but he is not. There are only 3 big stars in tennis.

Zverev is nowhere to be found and I will NOT put him in the same sentence with Djokovic, Federer and Nadal. Zvever knows very well that too.

He is too inconsistent and I guess he is happy where he is at the moment. That is not a good thing though. People say it's just a 250 tournament. Well, is it?

Djokovic can fool around and do this or that. Fed too. Zverev needs to wake up and smell the coffee.

 

[EloQuent]

It's not just him but also all youngsters in general.

Tsitsipas, Chung, Edmund, Tiafoe...

 

[Subway Tennis]

I see he's just lost another mid week match. I'm not particularly a fan, but he was announced as the next big thing yet something is very wrong. What? I'm not interested in hearing how he's too tall and doesn't have a decent forehand, blah, blah, blah, I think there must be something emotional, personality wise, psychological as well. He seems to be turning into a total flake.
Perhaps the banal answer will be just that he's been ill/injured. But I somehow think it's more than that.

Nothing is wrong with him that wasn't much the same last year at this time when he nearly won three tournaments in a row on clay, so all above posts predicting his imminent demise basically titanic class thinking all too typical on TTW when it comes to betting against younger players (Zverev still just 21). Zverev just did just take out Fed and Djoko back to back at WTF so he'll come around just fine.

Zverev looked good enough at Marrakech to find form at Monte-Carlo. He's playing this week due to unexpected early exit at Miami and it is a great move for Monte-Carlo. He's gotten some time on clay without too much wear for next week and he'll have more than a chance next week with Nadal's form likely to be his weakest of the season on clay. Adding this event was a natural because his brother was already playing so just easy to go and get in a few matches.

By the way the thread title should be more What's Right with Munar. Munar served quite well and the match and his hard hitting strategy worked with Zverev today. Zverev generally has trouble with really great movers and Munar was up to the task.

Another thread saved by Meles.

Like Meles said, Zverev started last year almost exactly the same way and we saw how that ended. We've only played one major and 2 m1000 so far in 2019, its too quick to be asking if anything is wrong with a player if they are starting exactly as they normally do.

May as well bookmark this thread for revision when Zverev is a force throughout clay winning a m1000 and performing to a very high level through the remainder of the year.

 

[AnOctorokForDinner]

Zverev.

 

[Lleytonstation]

He is focusing on what he does best... preparing for a deep run at the slams...

 

[asifallasleep]

There's nothing wrong with him. You can't compare him to or expect him to be Fed, Nadal, Djoker.......................those guys are once in a generation talent....................And their biggest talent is between the ears and to be able to do it every single day for years.

IMO Zverev doesn't want to be #1, doesn't have the fight in him to be #1 and he knows it in his heart. Everyone isn't built that way. I think he ends up like Monfils.......................maybe Safin...............doesn't have the drive or will to do what it takes to be Number 1.

He's made millions already and can have a nice life and career without ever reaching No1 or winning a slam. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[Bukowski]

Have you seen Zverev look at himself on the big screen? Thats the problem.

 

[guitarra]

He's too tall for a grinding base liner. Defence will never be the bread and butter of his game. He'll get tired and eventually lose in the longer matches in BO5.

So either he completely restructures his game to become more offensive and come in more or he won't cut it in slams. But can he do it?

 

[Dondon]

It's just ziraffe being Zverev

 

[Otacon]

I don't know.

 

[HazBeen18]

He'll get tired and eventually lose in the longer matches in BO5.

Yeah, this appears to be his MO. When he gets up against a solid dirt-baller (and/or career base-liner) who is prepared to run, the longer the match stretches on the worse he gets. He doesn't seem to have the stamina to play true baseline defense. Over three sets, he can blow guys off the court with his ground-strokes. And his foreward is highly untrustworthy... and his serve leaves him in pressure moments. Add those three things up and there's really no good path to a BO5 championship. However, I think he'll continue to rack up 500s, 250s, and the occasional 1000.

 

[Luka888]

I need a new cell phone. What do you suggest? No apples btw.

 

[TennisHound]

He's still getting used to being rich. Young and a lot of money quickly makes these guys complacent.

 

[boredone3456]

Well part of it is the technical aspects of his game that are weak whether you want to hear it or not. Those things, and yes his forehand, are a part of his problem.

Part of it is the created expectations of Tennis Media placed on him, the tennis media that is hungry for the next thing to talk about after Rodger, Novak and Rafa all finally join Murray in announcing retirement. They need a new it guy to talk about and right now he seems to get a ton of that talk because he has won some masters and won the YEC.

 

[Shaolin]

He's still getting used to being rich. Young and a lot of money quickly makes these guys complacent.

As long as there is gold out there to put around his neck he won't be complacent.