Alexander Zverev: 'Hopman Cup is perfect test for the Australian Open'
The 21-year-old Alexander Zverev has been the leader of the pack for the upcoming youngsters for years now and the trailblazer in both their ranking breakthrough and the success on the ATP Tour. The German has managed to finish the 2017 and 2018 seasons inside the top-four and to collect three Masters 1000 and the ATP Finals crowns so far, setting the eyes on even higher goals in 2019 after the most recent triumph in London that gave him a huge boost. After a well-deserved rest, Alexander is ready to rumble again, arriving in Perth four days ago to start preparations for his fourth straight Hopman Cup where he will try to go one step further than a year ago.
In 2016 and 2017, Germany failed to pass the round robin stage but they improved that last January, with Zverev and Angelique Kerber performing as the top seeds and one of the favorites for the crown. They scored wins over Belgium, Canada and Australia to set the title match against Switzerland, led by Roger Federer and Belinda Bencic. Federer toppled Zverev after a brilliant performance in the second and third sets and the overall score was leveled when Kerber ousted Bencic in straight sets.
The 30th Hopman Cup champion was to be decided in the mixed doubles match and Belinda and Roger won that one 4-3 4-2 to deliver the title for their country, the first in 17 years and that famous run of Federer and Martina Hingis. Now, Zverev will try to produce the different outcome in the next week, pumped and motivated to perform at his best and grab the first title for his country since 1995 in what looks like to be the last edition of this famous event.
"I really like Perth, that's why I'm coming here so early every year to start my tennis preparations. I'm happy to be back in Perth and for playing again inside this beautiful arena. I had a chance to train with Matthew Ebden, he is unbelievable, he is a local and this is the place where he will show his best tennis. Angelique and I were so close of winning the title last year, we lost that deciding match against Switzerland which was kind of upsetting. Angelique is arriving today and we will see how well we can get prepared for the tournament. The conditions here are warm and we are getting the perfect preparation for Melbourne in terms of the surface and everything."
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2SoaNEb
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