Young gun Zverev looks to emulate German greats at Wimbledon
German teenager Alexander Zverev said he was hoping to emulate the Wimbledon title-winning exploits of compatriots Boris Becker and Michael Stich after booking a place in the third round for the first time.
Zverev, the youngest player to break into the top 30 since world number one Novak Djokovic in 2006, is aiming to go right to the top, but the 19-year-old admits there is a lot of work ahead of him.
"Well, I barely made it to third round!" the 24th seed said.
"We'll see how the tournament goes. Obviously that's what I'm working for and that's what I try and aim for. But I'm far away from that right now."
The world number 28 is also up against it with the scheduling at rain-hit Wimbledon.
While Wimbledon legend Roger Federer reached the fourth round on Friday, having been playing under the Centre Court roof, Zverev, on the outside courts, did not finish his second round clash until Saturday.
"Roger is in the fourth round already, and I'm still playing the second round. But I'm just happy to get the win, happy to be in my first third round of Wimbledon," Zverev said.
"If it's fair or not, that's a different question. He's a seven?time champion here. I can't complain about it.
"He's going to get two days off. I have to play Friday, Saturday and Sunday and then maybe Monday. That's a little bit tougher physically."
Zverev became the last man through to the round of 32 after a marathon 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 second round victory over Russian veteran Mikhail Youzhny on Saturday.
- Sunday service -
He faces Czech 10th seed Tomas Berdych in the third round on Sunday -- the first time since 2004 that play has been staged on the traditional rest day, due to persistent rain during the first week, with tickets sold out on a first-come, first-serve basis.
"Jez, my fitness coach, just told me it's going to be a very great atmosphere," said Zverev.
"Maybe I will get a big court and obviously Tomas who is top 10. So we'll see. I'm really looking forward to it already.
"They have to get the matches through somehow. They're pretty much back on schedule."
Berdych, the 2010 Wimbledon runner-up, has won all three of their previous encounters.
Zverev said: "We always have tough matches. It's going to be hopefully a very good match again."
Berdych, 30, said his battle plan was to try to dictate the game.
"With Sascha I was playing some good battles. All of them went on the good side for me, but obviously he's a young kid and he's improving week by week," he said.
"So it's not going to be easy at all. The fact that he's playing one of the first years on the grass, he's very talented and well experienced to know how to deal with that."
Zverev is from a tennis family: his father, also called Alexander Zverev, played for the Soviet Union in the Davis Cup, while his older brother Mischa, 28, is the world number 152.
The German number two proved his ability on grass last month when he knocked Federer out of the semi-finals at Halle before losing to compatriot Florian Mayer in the final.
He was the first teenager to beat Federer since Andy Murray did so 10 years ago.