By Scoop Malinowski | Tuesday, May 23, 2017
"I think tennis all depends on yourself. And that’s something fantastic about tennis," says Alexander Zverev.
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The Eternal City was a fitting stage for a future conqueror.
A blue sign promoting the ATP’s Next Gen campaign proclaiming “The Future is Now” hung above Campo Centrale.
Watch: Zverev's Shining Moment Comes In Rome
Alexander Zverev branded the message into Rome’s red clay sweeping eight-time finalist Novak Djokovic to capture his first career Masters championship in commanding style.
Facing one of the great returners in tennis history, Zverev served 71 percent, slashed seven aces, permitted just five points on first serve and did not face a break point.
The 20-year-old German is the youngest Masters champion since a 19-year-old Djokovic won the 2007 Miami Open. Zverev has defeated three former Roland Garros champions in the past year—Roger Federer on grass, Stan Wawrinka on indoor hard court and Djokovic on clay—solidifying his status as a Grand Slam contender.
The future, indeed, is now.
"He's making his mark already," Djokovic said of Zverev. "I mean, today winning one of the biggest tournaments, absolutely deserved. Played great, served great."
An inspired Rome run propelled Zverev into the Top 10 for the first time. He’s the first German since Tommy Haas in 2007 to crack the Top 10.
Zverev has the weapons—booming backhand, ballistic serve and baseline aggression—to challenge for Grand Slam championships and someday attain the world No. 1 ranking.
Zverev came face-to-face with his tennis idol, Roger Federer, in Halle last summer and served the eight-time champion an eviction notice, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-3, snapping the Grand Slam king’s 15-match Halle winning streak and earning praise in the process.
"He’s got a big serve, he’s got a nice backhand, he’s improving his forehand and his moving forward," Federer said. "So, every week that goes by I think he’s going to be a tough player in the future, no doubt about it. Important is now the next few years how he’s going to be able to learn week in and week out and just take the right decisions as he goes along."
Author Scoop Malinowski caught up with the reigning Rome champion for this Biofile interview.
Born on: April 20, 1997 in: Hamburg, Germany.
First Tennis Memory: I’ve been told that I was like a year old and I was always taking a little tennis racquet and just playing with balls in the apartment. I guess that’s my first.
Tennis Inspirations: Roger Federer. And I also get inspired by other sports like Dwyane Wade for example inspires me a lot. The way he plays at his age and the way he has a family. And such a good father and manages to be one of the best basketball players in the world.
First Famous Player You Met Or Encountered: It was Roger Federer when I was about four years old – I believe in Hamburg in our hometown tournament. I was just somewhere in the players’ lounge. That’s my first time I remember meeting someone of the players.
Last Book Read: Probably a school book—you don’t read these days—you watch Netflix.
Favorite Sport Outside Tennis: Basketball.
Greatest Sports Moment: Well winning my first Masters 1000 event in Rome. It was one of the best tournaments I ever played. Super happy with the way I played. But I gotta keep working hard and improving. I can't stop now.
Most Painful Moment: Losing to (David) Ferrer in the semi-final in Hamburg wasn’t very nice – love and one [smiles]. Probably the French Open junior final back in 2013 (to Christian Garin) when I was only sixteen years old. I really wanted to win that but unfortunately I didn’t. The worst experience of my career was playing my brother (Mischa). You have to win the point…but then you’re playing your brother and you don’t want to win.
Strangest Match: Actually, it was in 2015 in Miami. I played Sam Groth. I did not win one single point on his serve. Until the game of 6-5 30-love for him. And I broke him. I won four points straight. Then the whole match I won about twelve points on his serve. And I broke him twice. So I still have no idea how I won that match [smiles].
Three Athletes You Like To Watch & Follow: Roger Federer. Dwyane Wade. And Dirk Nowitzki.
Funniest Players Encountered: Oh there are a few—Gael Monfils. Marinko Matosevic. And I don’t know—there’s probably others.
Why Do You Love Playing Tennis: Because it’s one on one sport. You don’t get that in any other sport really. The closest you get is probably boxing. You still have your coaches and your team in your corner telling you what to do and stuff. I think tennis all depends on yourself. And that’s something fantastic about tennis.
Favorite Tournament(s): Hamburg, because it’s my hometown. And it’s one of the greatest tournaments out there.
People Qualities Most Admired: Just honesty. I don’t like fake people a lot.
Courtesy of Scoop Malinowski, tennis-prose.com. Scoop is the author of "Facing Federer" , "Facing Hewitt" and "Facing Nadal", all available on Amazon.