My Olympics: Alexander Zverev
Reigning gold medallist Alexander Zverev has a chance to add his name to the record books of the Olympic Tennis Event as seeks to successfully defend his Tokyo title. Only Andy Murray has achieved this feat (2012, 2016).
Ahead of his quest for history, ATPTour.com caught up with the 27-year-old to learn where he keeps his prized Tokyo medal, who his favourite Olympic athlete is and how that ties in with his earliest memory from the event.
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What other Olympic sport do you think you would be good at?
We had this discussion [with my team], a funny question, ‘Which Olympic sport do you think you can compete in and not get last?’ I think I would get last in every single sport, I honestly do. I think if it’s a team competition like hockey or field hockey or basketball or something, I could hide behind some players. Maybe I could sit on the bench doing quite well. I think there’s no chance at all. I mean, I enjoy basketball. I enjoy field hockey. I enjoy a lot of sports, but I would be atrocious in all of them I think.
I’m actually quite okay at middle distances like 400m running. So I think I will be okay at it, but I will still be dead last. But I guess I’m okay for a tennis player, let’s put it that way.
For which Olympic sports would you be not well suited?
The obvious ones are maybe skateboarding. I think swimming, I’m not a great swimmer, something like that. Skateboarding would not be great.
Who are your favourite Olympic athletes?
Usain Bolt comes to mind. Fastest man alive, right? So you love watching that. Matthias Steiner for me as a German and also a diabetic, so that has something close to my heart.
Which Olympic sport is Germany best at?
Equestrian. I think we win 85 gold medals every year there, so I think that one.
What is your earliest Olympic memory?
For me the earliest one is Bolt in 2008 in Beijing, setting the new world record.
What did it mean to you to win gold in 2021?
For me, the Olympics are still the biggest sporting event in the world. So there’s nothing bigger than winning a gold medal I think for your country, for yourself and for everybody back at home. I think it’s an experience that you can’t feel anywhere else.
How much fun was the Olympic village?
It was awesome. It was great fun just being out with your athletes, just seeing other athletes that you watch on TV just walking around having food at the same restaurant as you and just mingling, just being around everybody.
Where do you keep the gold medal?
In my apartment in Monaco. It’s in the living room area.