Zverev claims the essence of the Davis Cup: "This is history, not money"
The German defended his country against Croatia a week after winning the US Open. A move that reminded us why this competition always deserves an extra effort.
After two weeks of intense concentration in New York and a movie-like ending where he lifted his second Grand Slam, many voices advised Alexander Zverev not to play in the Davis Cup. But the German had already given his word; it was too late to change his plans.
The example set by the German this weekend is one to remember. He, someone who has been so critical in the past of the format change, who has missed the call-ups so many times, is now at the top of the list when it comes to defending his country. Why? Because the Davis Cup is changing, gradually returning to what it has always been, which is why the man from Hamburg was in Halle these days to lead against Croatia with his two individual victories. An ideal outcome to earn a ticket for the final phase in November.
"The Davis Cup is history, not money"
But Zverev didn’t want to focus solely on the result. The weekend also served to reaffirm what, in his opinion, makes this competition special. And he did so after experiencing it first-hand in Halle, in front of thousands of German fans.
“What we will play in Bologna in a few months has nothing to do with the Davis Cup,” he stated. For Zverev, the true spirit of the tournament lies in the home and away ties, in traveling, competing in front of rival fans, and feeling that a team represents an entire country. “This atmosphere was the real Davis Cup,” insisted the German, who took the opportunity to send a message to those responsible for the competition. “Not every tournament has to revolve around money. The Davis Cup is history and not money,” he emphasized.
His speech came after a weekend in which Germany once again realized the value of playing at home. The tie attracted a large crowd in Halle and ended with Zverev waving the German flag on the court while celebrating qualification. The dream photograph, with the entire German public cheering for the great local idol.
Now Germany will travel to Bologna, where it will compete in the Finals from November 24 to 29. It will be the country's third consecutive qualification for this phase, a new opportunity to pursue a title that Germany has not won since 1993. Zverev has not yet confirmed his attendance, but his commitment this weekend makes it clear that the Davis Cup still means something special to him.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Zverev reivindica la esencia de la Davis: “Esto es historia, no dinero”