Zverev wins in the friendship duel and reaches second round of the US Open

Zverev wins in the friendship duel and reaches second round of the US Open

New York (dpa)-In an exciting duel between the German tennis hopes, Alexander Zverev prevailed against his Olympic room partner Maximilian Marterer. With a tedious 6: 2, 6: 7 (5: 7), 6: 3, 6: 2, the Hamburger made the leap into the second round of the US Open. After an intensive game that lasted almost three hours, Zverev finally turned his first match ball. In the following round, the winner awaits him from the encounter between the Frenchman Alexandre Müller and the Australian Adam Walton.

The game, shaped by numerous mistakes on both sides, was not easy for Zverev. «It was not easy, he knows me and he was my colleague at Olympics. It was a tricky game, »he said after the encounter.

Zverev's emotions during the game

Especially in the second sentence, the former secondary secondary division of the world showed weaknesses and fought against his own mistakes. At high temperatures around 30 degrees, Zverev made some reckless mistakes, he threw his racket onto the floor and kept leading heated discussions with his box. At the beginning, his mother Irina, who is usually nervous and does not want to look at the game from the stands, was also sitting at the beginning. This was also a special challenge for the player.

marterer, the world ranking 100. Already went to the tournament as an outsider, benefited from the cancellation of the Finn Emil Ruusuvuori in order to be able to play in the main field of the US Open. At the Olympic Games in Paris, the two players had shared a common room, which further reinforced the psychological component of this encounter.

The surprise performance of Jule Niemeier

Another remarkable achievement came from 25-year-old Jule Niemeier from Dortmund, who was the first German tennis player to reach the second round of the US Open. She defeated the Ukrainian Dajana Jastremska in a dramatic game that went over 3 hours and 10 minutes, 6: 4, 6: 7 (3: 7), 6: 4. After her impressive previous year's run, which led her to the Wimbledon quarter-finals and the round of 16 at the US Open, this victory for Niemeier is an important comeback after it failed last year in qualification.

After a promising start at the US Open, the Zverev initially played solidly, the match became increasingly challenging. He started strongly, won the first set in just half an hour with sovereign aces and a solid service performance. But the pressure grew and Zverev's initial control over the game faltered.

In the second set there was a turning point: the mistakes piled up, and Zverev had to give up in the decisive tie -break. After a double error, the sentence was lost, which led to frustration. Nevertheless, Zverev managed to hold back his emotions and stabilize for the rest of the game. With fresh courage, Zverev took over again and got the last two sentences without greater difficulties.

an outlook on the next round

The next games at the US Open could be crucial for both Zverev and Niemeier to find their shape and continue to prove themselves in the tournament structure. While the fans are looking forward to the upcoming encounters, it remains to be seen to what extent Zverev's progress can be seen in the next round and whether he will be able to constantly improve his game - especially against the background of his unexpected difficulties in the first round.

Current developments in German tennis

German tennis has experienced some remarkable developments in recent years that influence the next generations of players. The success of players such as Alexander Zverev and Jule Niemeier are part of a larger trend in which a new wave of talented players are. Zverev, who won Olympiagold in 2021, has become one of the best players worldwide, while Niemeier, who has already reached the quarter -finals in Wimbledon, has also shown promising performance.

By working with experienced coaches and improving the infrastructure for the training of young talents, the German Tennis Bund (DTB) and various tennis academies try to further increase the level of German tennis. However, the challenges in the global tennis circus, especially with regard to the dominance of players such as Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, require continuous adjustments and strategic developments.

competitive conditions in international tennis

The conditions in international tennis are increasingly competitive, which also affects the performance of players from different countries. The physical and mental stress caused by games in extreme temperatures such as during the US Open is another factor that influences the results. Players not only have to improve their technical skills, but also their physical fitness and mental strength to be able to survive against the best in the world.

Another aspect are the infrastructural conditions that are not only important for the elite players, but also for young players who hope for the breakthrough. In Germany it is ensured that talent has access to professional training and international competitions, which is of crucial importance for their development.

statistics on the performance of German tennis professionals

In order to better understand the achievements of German tennis professionals, some current statistics are revealing. In 2023, Alexander Zverev was able to claim his position in the top 10 in the ATP ranking, despite health challenges that affected him at the beginning of the season. Jule Niemeier, on the other hand, presented himself with a world-class performance level in 2022 before experiencing a phase with changing services that they returned in the world rankings.

statistics from the ATP and WTA ranking show that German players are constantly placed in the top 100 compared to other nations, which indicates a high level of talent and competitiveness. The DTB has implemented various programs to promote young people in recent years, which will hopefully be reflected in future results. The focus is on improving playing technology, physical fitness and mental strength of the players.