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Alexander Zverev ATP Finals win over Novak Djokovic signals changing of the guard in men's tennis

New era: Zverev cekebrates the biggest win of his career: EPA
New era: Zverev cekebrates the biggest win of his career: EPA

How pivotal might the 2019 ATP Finals prove to be in terms of a generation change in men’s tennis?

Last year, Grigor Dimitrov, long since nicknamed Baby Fed, finally lived up to that moniker by winning the end-of-season finale before somewhat disappearing without a trace in 2018.

Somehow Alexander Zverev’s victory on Sunday night felt different. Novak Djokovic was an altogether different prospect to Dimitrov facing David Goffin a year ago. The newly crowned No1 had just two defeats to his name since his remarkable Wimbledon turnaround, albeit now undoubtedly feeling the fatigue of a long second half to his season.

Having been vanquished by the first 21-year-old winner of the event since himself a decade ago, Djokovic predicted Zverev was the man to rattle the Big Three, four if Andy Murray can get back to form and fitness, come the Australian Open in just 46 days’ time.

“There’s no doubt he will be one of the favourites every Slam,” said Djokovic after his 6-4 6-3 defeat. “Of course, he won a huge tournament but he always had the quality to win a Slam.”

Such a statement makes it perplexing Zverev has managed to reach just one Grand Slam quarter-final, at the French Open this year before injury curtailed his progress.

Prior to the tournament, he said he did not see himself as the next big thing, the German’s response merely respectful of the sport’s established names.

Publicly, it is a stance he maintained inside the O2 on Sunday night despite surely privately believing he is on the precipice of that next level, all the more with the added support of former great Ivan Lendl.

The latter part of the season suggested the potential for change in 2019 and beyond, with Zverev also pointing to Karen Khachanov’s Paris Masters final win against Djokovic where the Serbian, like London, had looked unstoppable.

“Us young guys, we’re coming through,” said Zverev. “Khachanov winning the Masters in Paris was a big thing. I was very happy for him as well. I wasn’t happy that he beat me but I was happy for the victory that he had because I’m quite good friends with him.”

In London was a player that had beaten both Roger Federer and Djokovic in the space of two rounds. Against Federer in the semi-final, Zverev was booed after he stopped play when a ball boy dropped the ball.

Following the Djokovic victory, the crowd seemed more aware, at least more accepting, of Zverev’s position as the champion elect of tennis’ new generation.

The German himself hardly suggested he was about to take tennis by storm, simply saying: “This is the biggest title I have won in my career so far.

“I really hope this is just the beginning. I’m still young, I still want to improve on things.

“But the older guys are still winning most of the tournaments, the big titles. I’ve been in that mix for a little bit now. I hope some other young guys get in the top 10 next year and compete for the biggest titles.”

Zvervev will have time to plot his 2019 course and beyond with holiday time looming in Dubai and the Maldives but he was quick to brush off any sense that London could be the spark to ignite his career. He said repeatedly, “A lot of things can happen.”

Djokovic congratulates Zverev after the ATP Finals showdown in London (AFP/Getty Images)
Djokovic congratulates Zverev after the ATP Finals showdown in London (AFP/Getty Images)

For a player who once admitted to crippling nerves playing the big names early in his career, there was none of that over his last four sets of tennis here, adopting a greater aggression with Lendl in his corner.

As for Djokovic, it could not quite cap the fairytale end to an astonishing season. And his prediction for Zverev? “There’s a lot of similarities in terms of the trajectory of professional tennis in our careers.

“Hopefully he can surpass me. I sincerely wish that. He deserves everything he gets.”