Zverev lost again and smashed his racket; when will he learn from Wawrinka’s late bloom?

The United Cup team event and two ATP 250 tournaments are progressing intensely. Up to now, fan-favorites such as Mei and Wu Yibing have smoothly moved on to the next stage. Mei’s next opponent is Tiafoe, and Wu Yibing will take on Rublev. The United Cup seems to attract even more spotlight because of two standout players.

At the forefront is three-time Grand Slam winner Wawrinka, who declared this season would be his last. The veteran is neither dead nor fading away.

The 40-year-old Swiss veteran, in his farewell season’s opening match, faced last year’s Shanghai Masters runner-up Lindeknech and won in three sets after a long and hard-fought battle.

Just one day later, against Cobolli, who helped Italy win the Davis Cup last season, Wawrinka once again pushed his opponent to a deciding set tiebreak, an incredible feat.

Unbeknownst to many, both these players will be seeded at the Australian Open, yet the tournament organizers have not yet granted Wawrinka a wildcard. After witnessing such passionate performances, it’s time for them to reconsider.

Speaking of the Australian Open, it holds special significance for Wawrinka. In 2013, he battled defending champion Djokovic in a five-set thriller, narrowly losing but gaining belief he could triumph in major tournaments. Indeed, a year later, he defeated Nadal in the Australian Open final to claim his first Grand Slam title.

Some inspire great excitement, while others cause deep disappointment; surprisingly, such a person ranks as high as world No. 3. Zverev’s win over Dutch top player Griekspoor in the previous round was decent, but this time he faced Poland’s former finalist and two-time Masters champion Hurkacz, who had been absent from the tour for seven months.

However, Hurkacz performed excellently, scoring over 20 service points, leaving the German no chance but to surrender. Losing isn’t the worst, but Zverev smashed his racket on court and then refused to shake the referee’s hand after the match.

Just yesterday, the player who has been ranked in the world’s top three for two consecutive years stated he doesn’t consider last season a failure, feels close to players like Alcaraz and Sinner ahead of him, and believes he can still win a Grand Slam in the future.

Once these words were out, fans immediately mocked him. Zverev is nearly 30, and realistically, his chances to compete for Grand Slam titles are limited. Indeed, the dominance of the twin stars seems stronger than ever, and rising contenders like Menchik and Fonseca are coming on strong. Struggling to survive in the gap, how can the German realistically have great hopes?Source: Tennis Home, Author: Luo Cheng Qiye