Olympia: Alexander Zverev draws into the semifinals - Zverev Graf

Thanks to an untrained and safeguarded success in the quarterfinals on Thursday, the number five of the world moved into the semi-final against the Serbian TopStar. Against the exceptional council from Serbia, Zverev now plays the chance of a historic gold in Tokyo. For the first German Olympia medal in the men's singles for 21 years only another victory is missing.

If ZVEREV wants to use the first medal elevation, he must defeat the dominant player of the previous tennis season in the semifinals on Friday. In the case of a defeat, the game was bronze. The last German single medal in the men's gentlemen took Tommy Haas 2000 with silver, gold was never for a tennis player from Germany at Olympic Games.

Does Zverev Graf's rescue status?

But against Djokovic is another and very special chapter Tennis history at stake: the world ranking learning - this season of the dominant players - the first since Steffi Graf in 1988 the Golden Slam with all four triumphs at the Grand Slam tournaments and Win Olympia Gold.

ZVEREV can secure with a coup about Djokovic on Friday not only his own Olympic honors, but also these unique exceptional status of the German sports icon Graf. In the case of a defeat against Djokovic, ZVEREV remained the duel about Bronze - and that German number one would be favored in any case. In the other semi-finals, Pablo Carreno Busta from Spain and the Russian Karen Khachanov opposite.

hardly in chardy in distress

The medal elevation in a double had first played Zverev. One day after the sobering quarter-final-out with Jan-Lennard Struff, in which it had been possible, ZVEREV could barely doubt his progress. Alfons Hörmann was initially sitting as one of the few viewers on the grandstand - and also the DOSB president could see how the opponent Zverev helped first. In the second impact game, the world ranking lists-68 made itself. Two double errors. Zverev did not have to do much for it to lead with a break.

The last remaining German single participant missed it to further expand the lead in the first sentence. At its own premium, however, the 1.98 meter athlete was not in distress, even if he did not quite so dominant as in the round before.

In the first game of the second sentence, the number four of the sink list picked up for a short time after a fault. But at his sovereign appearance, nothing changed. On the contrary: ZVEREV was increasingly considering and robbed the French with fast breaks in the second sentence early the hopes.

Weak balance against Djokovic

Of eight comparisons with the 20x Grand Slam tournament winner Djokovic, Zverev has decided only two for themselves. Most recently, he was inferior at the Australian Open at the beginning of the year. But two won sentences are sufficient in Tokyo, but enlarges its possibilities.

dpa