Self-doubt

Ofner: “Don’t know if I’ll get there one day”

(Bild: APA/AFP/Valery HACHE)

Sebastian Ofner was self-critical after his elimination in Monte Carlo. The 27-year-old was crushed by Alexander Zverev in the second round of the Masters 1000 tournament on Tuesday. The German world number five gave Austria's number one tennis player no chance with a 6:3, 6:4 win. 

"The performance was okay. But he's a class above me in most respects," said Ofner. "He's a seasoned top 10 player, I'm missing something. I don't know whether I'll get there one day or not." At the moment, he has to find his way "at my level". "That worked out well with the first round anyway. I'm much better on track than I was a month or two before. That's why I think the next tournaments will look good," explained the 27-year-old, who will be back on clay in Barcelona next week and then has his sights set on Madrid and Rome.

Ofner also had no chance in his fourth meeting with Zverev. The Olympic champion took his first break chance to make it 3:1 and easily took the first set in 39 minutes. In the second, Zverev laid the foundation for victory with a break to 3:2, even though Ofner fought back late on. When the match seemed to be over, the 2023 French Open round of 16 finalist made his first break of the match at 2:5 and subsequently reduced the deficit to 4:5, but Zverev finally served out to win the match.