Zverev: 'We're Not Too Far Away'

A four-time ATP World Tour champion already this season, 20-year-old Alexander Zverev is used to hearing the “next big thing” label thrown his way. Fresh from securing the Citi Open trophy in Washington, D.C on Sunday, the #NextGenATP German enters the Coupe Rogers with a top-four seeding at an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event for the first time.

He is well on track to qualify for both the ATP World Tour Finals and the Next Gen ATP Finals. Not that it has come as any real surprise.

“I think ‘surprised’ is the wrong word,” Zverev said. “I know how much I’ve done in the off-season. I know how much work I’ve put in with my whole team.

“Obviously the Rome title was a big one. I didn’t expect it. You know, I knew that I could beat the best players in the world, and I’ve shown that over several weeks this year. I’m happy where I am.

 “But the season doesn’t stop now. It’s only August. There’s still a lot more tennis ahead of us, and we’ll see where I can be at the end of the season.”

Zverev earned the biggest win of his career when he defeated then No. 2 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, Novak Djokovic, to land the biggest title of his career at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Rome. The man also dubbed as the “next big thing”, Dominic Thiem, went on to defeat Djokovic en route to the semi-finals at Roland Garros.

Zverev said the pair was working hard to close the gap on the Big Four. A major breakthrough for either player could well be on the horizon.

“We’re not too far away,” Zverev said. “I think both of us have shown that. We’ve won big tournaments this year.

“I’ve had and Dominic has had great matches in five sets against those kind of guys. He beat Novak in Paris. I lost to Nadal in five sets in Australia. That shows we’re not far away.

“There’s little things. In important moments maybe they do stuff better. Maybe they’re experienced, as well. They’ve been on tour, you know, Rafa 12 years, Roger, whatever, 16, 17 years. That has an influence on it, as well.”

The German fell at the opening hurdle at the Coupe Rogers last season. He will face Frenchman Richard Gasquet in his opening match in Montreal.

It would be the first step in what could become a clash of the generations in the semi-finals. Top seed Nadal is drawn to meet Zverev, while second seed Federer could meet the No. 3 seed Thiem.

“Dominic [and I], we’re No. 7 and No. 8 in the world, we’re doing well this season. Roger and Rafa will most likely finish No. 1 and No. 2 in the world. It still shows they’re playing on such a high level,” Zverev said.

“But, if we get to the semi-finals, and I play Rafa, and Dominic plays Roger, it is going to be an interesting match-up. We’ll see what generation can win that.”