My Olympics
My Olympics: Alexander Zverev
German would really feel comfy operating the 400m if he had the prospect
July 28, 2024
Getty Photographs
Alexander Zverev remembers Usain Bolt’s 100m heroics in Beijing as one among his earliest Olympic reminiscences.
By ATP Workers
Reigning gold medallist Alexander Zverev has an opportunity so as to add his identify to the file books of the Olympic Tennis Occasion as seeks to efficiently defend his Tokyo title. Solely Andy Murray has achieved this feat (2012, 2016).
Forward of his quest for historical past, ATPTour.com caught up with the 27-year-old to study the place he retains his prized Tokyo medal, who his favorite Olympic athlete is and the way that ties in along with his earliest reminiscence from the occasion.
What different Olympic sport do you assume you’d be good at?
We had this dialogue [with my team], a humorous query, ‘Which Olympic sport do you assume you’ll be able to compete in and never get final?’ I feel I’d get final in each single sport, I actually do. I feel if it is a group competitors like hockey or subject hockey or basketball or one thing, I might cover behind some gamers. Possibly I might sit on the bench doing fairly nicely. I feel there isn’t any probability in any respect. I imply, I take pleasure in basketball. I take pleasure in subject hockey. I take pleasure in numerous sports activities, however I’d be atrocious in all of them I feel.
I am truly fairly okay at center distances like 400m operating. So I feel I will probably be okay at it, however I’ll nonetheless be useless final. However I assume I am okay for a tennis participant, let’s put it that manner.
For which Olympic sports activities would you be not nicely suited?
The plain ones are perhaps skateboarding. I feel swimming, I am not an important swimmer, one thing like that. Skateboarding wouldn’t be nice.
Who’re your favorite Olympic athletes?
Usain Bolt involves thoughts. Quickest man alive, proper? So you like watching that. Matthias Steiner for me as a German and likewise a diabetic, in order that has one thing near my coronary heart.
Which Olympic sport is Germany finest at?
Equestrian. I feel we win 85 gold medals yearly there, so I feel that one.
What’s your earliest Olympic reminiscence?
For me the earliest one is Bolt in 2008 in Beijing, setting the brand new world file.
What did it imply to you to win gold in 2021?
For me, the Olympics are nonetheless the largest sporting occasion on the planet. So there’s nothing larger than successful a gold medal I feel on your nation, for your self and for everyone again at dwelling. I feel it is an expertise which you can’t really feel anyplace else.
How a lot enjoyable was the Olympic village?
It was superior. It was nice enjoyable simply being out together with your athletes, simply seeing different athletes that you simply watch on TV simply strolling round having meals on the identical restaurant as you and simply mingling, simply being round everyone.
The place do you retain the gold medal?
In my residence in Monaco. It’s in the lounge space.