Getting off to a flying start for the German World Champion?
For the seventh time in his career, German superstar Alexander Zverev is taking part in the Australian Open. So far, he has won 16 of his 22 singles matches at the first Grand Slam tournament of the calendar year. He has only failed to reach round one on his debut in 2016, while today’s compatriot and opponent is also set to make his debut.
For the first time ever, Daniel Altmaier qualified for the Grand Slam in Down Under. In fact, this is only the second Grand Slam tournament of the Kempten native’s professional career. Accordingly, he is listed by the bookies as a severe underdog. In the run-up to the first round match between Alexander Zverev and Daniel Altmaier, the odds are clearly in Sascha’s favour.
The number 91 in the ATP world rankings certainly doesn’t want to make it easy for the reigning overall winner of the ATP Finals. Nevertheless, we do not think the Kempten player has much of a chance of surprising Sascha in a long match over three winning sets, not least because of his strong serve. Accordingly, there is a lot to be said for Alexander Zverev’s betting on Daniel Altmaier to win less than 30.5 games.
Alexander Zverev – Statistics & current form
Current ranking in the world rankings: 3
Position in the seedings: 3
The 24-year-old German Alexander Zverev has already achieved a number of milestones in his comparatively young career. There are already two overall victories at the ATP Finals, which he won again only last autumn.
In addition, he has already won five tournaments in the ATP Tour Masters 1000 Series and won the gold medal at the 2021 Olympic Games. Only two milestones are still missing: the first Grand Slam and first place in the ATP World Ranking.
Win tournament in Melbourne to become world number one?
The Hamburg native could now achieve both in one fell swoop in Down Under.
If he wins the tournament at the Australian Open, the 24-year-old would also displace current world number one Novak Djokovic in the rankings, who is not allowed to compete in the men’s singles.
In the end, however, it is precisely these arithmetic games that create enormous pressure. Pressure that the two-time world champion has mostly been able to withstand in recent years. In his last eleven appearances at Grand Slam tournaments, Zverev has only failed once in the first week of the tournament (Wimbledon 2019).
Always at least in the semi-finals at four of the last eight Grand Slams
Factually, the current world number three has always reached at least the last 16 at the last eight Grand Slams in a row. In four of these eight tournaments, Zverev even ended up among the top four athletes. The newly-crowned world champion can go into the first round match against his compatriot with corresponding confidence.
Daniel Altmaier – Statistics & current form
Current ranking in the World Ranking: 91
Seeded position: unseeded
The 23-year-old German Daniel Altmaier already made a splash in his promising junior career when he reached the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon Championships boys’ singles in 2016.
However, he has not really been able to build on these successes in his younger years since he made the leap onto the ATP Tour. For only the second time in his career, the player from Kempten has qualified for a Grand Slam tournament.
First twelve wins ever on the ATP Tour
However, Altmaier has already attracted a lot of attention in his first and only participation in a Grand Slam so far. At the French Open 2020, the 23-year-old made it to the last 16 straight away.
Statistically speaking, the player, who has only played 29 matches on the ATP Tour (twelve wins, 17 losses), has won 75% of all matches played in the main draw of Grand Slam tournaments.
Win rate of 16.7% against Top 10 players
Despite this, Alexander Zverev’s betting on another victory on one of the world’s biggest tennis stages against Daniel Altmaier is ill-starred.
Not only does the number 91 in the ATP world rankings now have to face one of the top favourites for the overall title, but the player from Kempten, who only broke the sound barrier last November and climbed into the top 100 for the first time, has only won one of his six matches against current or former top 10 players so far.
Alexander Zverev – Daniel Altmaier Direct comparison / H2H record
Never before have both countrymen faced each other in a rated singles match. Accordingly, there is no “head to head” data available that could be used in the forecast for Alexander Zverev against Daniel Altmaier.
Alexander Zverev – Daniel Altmaier Tip
It is clear that it would be a big surprise if Alexander Zverev were to suffer his first Australian Open opening defeat in six years against his compatriot Daniel Altmaier.
However, it is also clear that the underdog from Kempten has nothing to lose against the reigning world champion and must play freely. The pressure is clearly on Sascha, who is expected to win the opening match easily as one of the favourites for the overall victory. However, the number three in the world has already proven several times in the last few years that he can handle pressure.
We have every confidence that the Hamburg player will be able to steer the match in the right direction early on with his strong serve and not let anything go to waste with breaks at the right time. Accordingly, we are betting that the match will be decided in less than 30.5 games.
