Alexander Zverev conserved energy with his straight-sets victory in the first round. Concerns about his dog also appear to be over following the accident.
The start went well, the weather was ideal: Alexander Zverev was in high spirits after his confident first-round victory at the French Open against Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi. Also because he has his dachshund Mishka back by his side. The dog had been in an accident on the sidelines of the ATP tournament in Munich—which Zverev now recounted in Paris.
“The little idiot is eight months old. He doesn’t understand why he has to stay in the golf cart,” said the world No. 3: “He was on a leash, but he jumped out of the golf cart while it was still moving and broke four bones. And he broke both his hips.”
Zverev talks about his dog’s horrific accident
He spent the whole night at the hospital back then, Zverev said: “I didn’t know if he would need surgery. I didn’t know if he would ever walk again.” Now everything is okay again. “He’s walking again, though he still limps a bit.” Everything will heal well.
And he can be there again as a good-luck charm for Zverev’s hoped-for title run. The weather is also playing along. “I’ve always said that, especially on clay, I prefer heat to cold weather,” said Zverev. His entire game is more effective then. “This 18 degrees and cloudy—that’s a disaster for me,” he added.
The coming days are accordingly in Zverev’s favor—it’s staying hot in Paris, which Eurosport expert Boris Becker also sees as an advantage for the Tokyo Olympic champion. “I think that’s an advantage for Alexander Zverev and perhaps a disadvantage for Jannik Sinner,” said the 58-year-old, adding with regard to the tournament favorite from South Tyrol: “He actually always struggles with high temperatures.”