Alexander Zverev is the next great tennis superstar
By Harry Floyd
Alexander Zverev represents the future of the ATP World Tour. The 2018 ATP Finals is the perfect example of the changing of the guard.
Alexander Zverev versus Novak Djokovic was just one of the significant wins to look at after the ATP Finals in London. The young champion earned four of five match wins throughout his time at the O2 Arena. All four of those wins are crucial when examining his greatness. The four players that Zverev defeated are Marin Cilic, John Isner, Roger Federer, and… Djokovic.
There is almost no explanation necessary when it comes to Federer. The Swiss legend is arguably the best tennis player to ever play the sport. And now, Zverev has three ATP singles wins over Federer. The young German is 3-3 so far against him. The win over Djokovic also evens his head-to-head career matches to 2-2 with Nole.
Zverev once again proves that he can compete with the best, defeating the likes of Djokovic, Federer, Cilic, and Isner.
Wins over Cilic and Isner are critical too. The Croatian tennis veteran is a US Open champion and he has reemerged as one of the top players in the sport this year. Isner, a star in his own right, is the currently the top men’s singles player from the United States.
Jack Sock, once thought to be the next great American player, has fared much better on the men’s doubles circuit than in singles this year on the ATP World Tour. Sock walks away from this year’s ATP Finals in London a success, but not in men’s singles. Partnering up with Mike Bryan this year after Mike’s brother Bob went down due to injury, Sock completes a fantastic year in men’s doubles by noticing the doubles title at the ATP Finals. It is Isner though, who remains the player to beat on the singles side from the United States. It is Zverev, however, who defeats Isner when it matters the most.
After dropping a match to Djokovic in the group stage, the soon-to-be champion rebounded, taking down Isner in a tough straight set victory. This win set up his thriller with Federer.