US tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg has sparked a social media storm with comments made about Alexander Zverev after the polarising German punched his ticket to the US Open final.
Zverev will play for his second grand slam title this year after beating Karen Khachanov 6-3 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (8-6) in the semi-finals on Saturday morning (Australian time).
The 29-year-old is having a career best year but Rothenberg is saying Zverev’s star has only risen due to a recession in men’s tennis.
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“Zverev has a 24-2 record at the majors this year. He also has a 1-2 record against top-10 opponents at the majors this year, with the lone win coming against an ailing Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon,” Rothenberg said.
“He’s capitalised on a profound men’s tennis recession period.”
In many ways Rothenberg is right.
With Novak Djokovic now 39 years old and legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal retired, the grand slam door is ajar.
Jannik Sinner, 25, and Carlos Alcaraz, 23, are clearly the new superstars of the sport, but Sinner is currently injured and Alcaraz has been battling a right wrist injury this year.
It’s a similar ebb to when greats such Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi retired at the start of the 21st century, and before the emergence of Federer.
But calling it a “recession” has hit nerve with fans, particularly because Rothenberg has a well documented dislike of Zverev.
In fact, Rothenberg said he would not watch the French Open final, which Zverev of course won (his first grand slam title).
Zverev’s French Open victory was followed by a Wimbledon final, where he lost to Sinner.
Rothenberg’s dislike of the tennis player stems from domestic violence accusations made against him by two former partners, including his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child, Brenda Patea.
Zverev has consistently denied all accusations, but Rothenberg will not let it go.
“Honestly it would be fascinating to see an economic impact study of how much money Zverev has potentially cost men’s tennis in the last six years,” Rothenberg said after the semi-final victory against Khachanov.
Fans, however, are starting to find Rothenberg’s “hatred” of the player overbearing.
“We know you hate Zverev, just stop with the obsessive posting,” one fan said.
And another said: “Your personal hatred to Zverev is unhinged and disturbing.”
Another fan said it’s not Zverev’s “fault” for capitalising on the “recession”, while another congratulated the player for making hay while the sun shines.
“I mean good for him. Part of the game is longevity, and him being as consistently good for as long as he has, there’s bound to be some period where the quality of the competition goes down,” one fan said.
“Zverev really lives rent free in your head, huh?” another said.
Rothenberg does have his share of supporters, though.
Meanwhile, Zverev will face either No.8 seed Ben Shelton or the 11th-ranked Frances Tiafoe, who play later on (Saturday AEST) for the right to give the US a man in the decider. Both have been semi-finalists in Flushing Meadows but neither have reached a major final.
The US is still seeking its first men’s grand slam champion since Andy Roddick won in New York in 2003.
“Hopefully I can not make the American dream come true on Sunday,” Zverev said in his post-match on-court interview.
“Sometimes just things go your way and I feel like I’ve had a lot of struggles at the major level,” Zverev added.
“I was so close so many times, and maybe this year God has said that this is going to be your year and just enjoy the time on the court.”
Now he will try to win the title that he still can’t believe he let get away in 2020. Zverev won the first two sets against Dominic Thiem but then lost in a fifth-set tiebreaker, as Thiem became the first man to win the US Open title after dropping the first two sets of the decider since 1949.
Zverev was solid after going up two sets this time, and has won 13 consecutive sets after becoming the first No.1-seeded man to play five-setters in each of the first two rounds of a major.
Khachanov was trying to reach his first major final after a surprising run in New York. He arrived with a losing record for the season but went on to reach his third grand slam semi, including second at the US Open.
– Brian Mahoney, AP
