Despite a tough go so far on the American hard courts this summer, 19-year-old German Alexander Zverev is remaining positive ahead of the final major of the season, the US Open. Zverev, who is one of the ATP's brightest young stars made his aspirations clear for all to see, discussing his high goals and how he plans to achieve them. 

Zverev wants to win Grand Slams and be number one

"I want to win a Grand Slam and be the best player in the world. I'm ready for it. Working on these goals every day and training harder than anyone else. We'll see how they evolve things and how fast," said the 19-year-old German star, the youngest player in the ATP top 100. 

Alexander Zverev slices a backhand at the Citi Open in Washington D.C./Getty Images
Alexander Zverev slices a backhand at the Citi Open in Washington D.C./Getty Images

"I want to be the best player possible. I have made an idea of ​​how to play tennis in the future and I know exactly what I have to work to express my best tennis in the coming years," said Zverev. "I am creating the basis on which to work to finally win the big tournaments," added this year's runner-up in Nice and at his home tournament in Halle. 

Zverev's tough run this summer 

After a solid run to the third round at Wimbledon this summer, it has been a tough go for the German since then, falling in the first round at his hometown tournament in Hamburg before coming to the US for the Emirates Airline US Open Series. In the states, Zverev got off to a rough start at the Citi Open in Washington D.C., falling in a lopsided 6-4, 6-0 loss to eventual champion Gael Monfils

The 19-year-old then fell in the opening round in Toronto to Yen-Hsun Lu, before skipping the Olympics in Rio. In his final tuneup ahead of the US Open in Cincinnati, Zverev again fell in the first round to Japanese veteran Yuichi Sugita, causing much doubt over Zverev's chances to go deep in a few days time in New York. 

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Thomas Cluck
Thomas Cluck is an avid tennis fan who loves to share his passion for the sport through writing. Thomas is from Dallas, TX, and is an tennis agent and PR person. Thomas has been watching tennis for many years and covers the sport daily on his Instagram page @atpwta_tennis.