Zverev: 'Everybody's Looking Forward To Playing Novak'
Alexander Zverev has great memories at The O2 in London. Two years ago, the German earned the biggest title of his career at the Nitto ATP Finals. During that run, he defeated Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic en route to lifting the trophy.
This year will be different, though. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament’s 12th and final London edition will be played without fans. Zverev, who is competing in the season finale for the fourth time, will try to make the most of it.
“It’s a little bit upsetting, of course. London is a place where we love the atmosphere, we love the stadium and everything,” Zverev said. “It’s going to be difficult, it’s going to be different, but I’m still looking forward to playing in this beautiful stadium for the last time at the Nitto ATP Finals. It’s still going to be special.”
[WATCH LIVE 3]The fifth-seeded Zverev is in Group Tokyo 1970, which is led by World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. The Serbian leads their ATP Head2Head series 3-2.
“Novak is a great player no matter where you play him. He’s tough to beat,” Zverev said. “I played him twice here in the same year. Obviously I won once, I lost once. He’s going to be difficult. I think he’s the favourite in our group and everybody’s going to look forward to playing him. You have to play your best to have a chance against him.”
Zverev has shown good form since the ATP Tour’s restart in August, reaching his first Grand Slam final at the US Open in New York.
The 23-year-old has maintained his momentum, winning two of his past three tournaments (both in Cologne). Last week, he reached the Rolex Paris Masters final, in which he lost a tough three-setter against Daniil Medvedev, who is also in his group. First-time Nitto ATP Finals competitor Diego Schwartzman rounds out Group Tokyo 1970.
Zverev will try to carry his confidence onto The O2’s hard court. It’s the place where the German enjoyed his biggest triumph. Now, he’ll try to repeat that success before the season finale moves to Turin, Italy next year.
“I am looking forward to playing here for the last time in London.”
Did You Know?
Zverev owns a 7-5 record at the Nitto ATP Finals. Against the ‘Big Three’ of Djokovic, Federer and Rafael Nadal, he is 3-2.