Tennis Scenario: - Rollercoaster ride advances Zverev, showcasing mental fortitude
Alexander Zverev, a German tennis player, showed incredible determination when he was losing 1:4 in the 5th set at the French Open. He didn't give up but kept fighting till the very end. The words of French aviation pioneer Roland Garros echoed in the upper tier of Court Philippe Chatrier, "Victory belongs to the most persistent."
Enduring all the pain and struggles Zverev had to go through in his career, he still believed that these experiences could make him stronger. He proved this when he advanced to the round of 16 after winning against Dutch player Tallon Griekspoor. "I've been through a lot of rough times in the past few years with my injuries, my comeback, and many ups and downs. I still think it can make you stronger," said the tennis player born in Hamburg.
In the round of 16 match against Danish star Holger Rune on Monday, Zverev will again have to fight against the challenging weather conditions. He wishes for warm, sunny weather, but the forecast predicts clouds and a temperature of about 17 degrees. This isn't ideal for Zverev, who needs faster, higher bouncing balls to perform his best.
Zverev isn't going to let himself get upset by these difficult conditions. His past experiences of injuries, struggles, and tantrums have strengthened his mental fortitude. "You can either fall apart or come back and say, 'I've been through all this, I'm here again, and I've earned the right to play for titles like this." explained Zverev.
Zverev has transformed over the years. He used to confront the pressure by breaking rackets and receiving warnings from the referee. But now he has decided to be a different type of player, a role model, just like tennis greats Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
His most recent trophy was at the French Open 2018, though he faced some injuries and lost a chance to win Grand Slam. Yet, he didn't give up. His worst meltdown occurred back in 2017 when he hit the referee's chair in Acapulco - an act he has avoided ever since.
"I don't break rackets anymore, I hardly get warnings," said Zverev.
Acapulco was a turning point for him, making him a different player. There's only one remaining German professional aiming for the French Open title, and that's Zverev.
In his match against Griekspoor, although there were some on-court discussions with the line judge, he maintained composure. He found the right strategy to counteract the serve-and-volley game of his opponent, which had been "killing me two sets." He won two breaks in the fifth set and displayed his growing mental strength in the match tiebreak.
Zverev's mental strength would not only help him against Rune, a former pupil of tennis legend Boris Becker, but might also lead him to his long-awaited first Grand Slam tournament victory. "At the end of the day, I'm here for this," said Zverev. "There's no secret that I want to win one of these things - and hopefully more."
On Saturday, Jan-Lennard Struff, the other German tennis player playing in the French Open, lost his third-round match against Australian Alex De Minaur, 6:4, 4:6, 3:6, 3:6, killing Struff's excitement about the Champions League final between his favorite football team Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid that night.
After the loss, Struff's mood couldn't possibly improve. "I don't feel like it right now," said Struff an hour before the match start. It was a dismal day for the Borussia Dortmund fan as his favorite football team also lost the Champions League final against Real Madrid.
