Olympic Champion Alexander Zverev believes that the change of guard is almost complete in the tennis of men with big silver next year which may be shared between Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and himself.
Zverev Germany defeated Djokovic on his way to gold at the Tokyo Olympics and then ended the year by winning the ATP final title for the second time.
Djokovic won the three grand slam titles this year but Rafa Nadal’s old rivals and Roger Federer failed to add to their collection with the trio of being tied to 20 majors each.
World number two Medvedev defeated Djokovic in the final open A.S.
Zverev also reached two semi-grand slams this year.
Heading to the new season Federer, 40, still recovering from the temporary knee operation of Nadal, 35, is in the early stages of the return of a foot injury.
“I think next year can be very similar to the last six months since this year,” Zverev, named Sportsman Germany this year, told Eurosport Germany Das Gelbe Vom Ball Podcast.
“Previously, used to always talk about Nadal, Federer and Djokovic – now a big title is the Olympics, the US Open, Turin (Final ATP) and Wimbledon, and they were all won by Medvedev, Djokovic and Me.
I don’t have to expect it’s different next year.
“Zverev ends the year third year and believes point number one is a decent target.
“I know I’m not far from it, but for that I also have to win the tournament and grand slams,” he said.
Theoretically, the 24-year-old Zverev can be number one if he won the Australian Open and Djokovic missed the tournament due to the attitude of the Covid-19 vaccine.
“The situation with Novak and Australia is still a big question mark,” he said.
“Of course, I hope he will be played, it’s very clear.” There are thousands of mathematical calculations, if he doesn’t play Australia and I won the Australian Open, then I number one in the world and so on and so on.
“In the end, now it’s not the time to think (become number one), it’s not the time to prepare as well as possible so you can play physically for it.” Zverev’s failure to capture a grand slam has surprised some, but it is now a consistent threat to the biggest events after initially struggling to show the best to them.
“I became much calmer.
I’m also getting older.
I’m not 18 or 19 again.
I understand maybe a little more about life and understand that you only have to stay calm in important situations,” he said.
“It has affected me this year.”