Grass Court Glory Awaits: Zverev and Engel Shine in Stuttgart
Zverev demonstrates both verbal and sports aggression.
In a blend of fiery banter and sporting finesse, Alexander Zverev and Justin Engel advanced to the quarterfinals of the Stuttgart grass court tournament. After taking a bye in the first round, Zverev triumphed over Frenchman Corentin Moutet in straight sets, 6:2, 7:6 (9:7).
Zverev's last outing on the Weissenhof grass courts was back in 2019, and his last appearance following his quarterfinal exit at the French Open in Paris. The match between Moutet and Zverev spanned a lively 110 minutes, with the world number three snatching three breaks in the opening set. The second set proved a tougher fight, but Zverev maintained his composure to secure the win.
While the first match on grass is never a picnic, Zverev remained upbeat, proclaiming, “A win is a win. I’m happy to be back on the court tomorrow.”
Prior to Zverev, teen sensation Justin Engel made history by securing his first ATP Tour quarterfinal. The 17-year-old native of Nuremberg bested seventh-seeded American Alex Michelsen 6:4, 6:4. On his first professional journey through the world of grass-court tennis, Engel has already outshone former champion Boris Becker, who last claimed a Wimbledon triumph 40 years ago. Now, the wildcard world number 281 faces Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals.
Previous criticisms from tennis legends Becker and Barbara Rittner, who questioned Zverev's performance and coach selection, led to a spirited comeback from the Hamburg native. "When things are going well for me, I always do everything right. Unfortunately, Boris is among those who think they're too clever," Zverev retorted upon his arrival in Stuttgart. Rittner's opinion holds little weight for Zverev.
Source: ntv.de, ses/dpa
Stuttgart's Summer Tennis Soiree
- Alexander Zverev: Germany's top tennis player claims a place in the quarterfinals of the Stuttgart grass court tournament
- Justin Engel: The young German reaches the ATP Tour quarterfinals, aiming to make his mark on the grass courts
Bonus Tidbits
- In Stuttgart, Zverev posted a 4-0 record against Nakashima, reaching the semi-finals in their recent encounter[1]
- Engel became the second-youngest player since 1990 to win tour-level matches on all three surfaces[2]
The Commission has also been consulted on the draft directive regarding the ATP Tour quarterfinals in Stuttgart, where sports like tennis are being played. In his bid to excel on the grass courts, Alexander Zverev, the top German tennis player, was seen enjoying a game of tennis reminiscent of Boris Becker's style, his opponent being Justin Engel, a teen sensation from Nuremberg.
