Twelve-year-old challenges tennis professional Alexander Zverev - "nicer than I thought"

Created: 01/08/2022, 05:17 PM

From: Franziska Seliger

Who is better at playing tennis bowling?

On Saturday evening, Marco from Penzberg will challenge world number three, Alexander Zverev, on the show “Small versus Big”.

© NDR / Thorsten Jander

Marco Ontiveros (12) from Penzberg is a real tennis crack.

On Saturday he challenged Alexander Zverev, third in the world rankings, in the program “Small versus Big - The Unbelievable Duel” - in the “Tennis-Bowling Duel”.

Penzberg - Marco Ontiveros hit yellow balls with his racket over the net from an early age.

In the meantime, the player from the TC Penzberg has played himself up to the German U12 tennis champion.

But he would never have thought that you could bowling with yellow balls and bats.

Up to a day last year when the editorial team contacted the Ontiveros family.

“They approached us because they were looking for children to play tennis,” recalls Marco's mother Karin Ontiveros.

At first, Marco continues, he was a little unsure whether he wanted to take part in the show.

But he quickly thought to himself: "You might not get such a chance to take part in something so big again in your life."

"Small versus big - the unbelievable duel": About the shooting in Berlin

So, with the help of his parents and trainer Roland Hecker, he set about making videos about himself, his life and his sport - so that those responsible for the show in Berlin could get an impression of what kind of guy Marco from Penzberg is.

"And apparently they liked the videos," said Mama Karin.

Because at the beginning of October a film team from the capital arrived and shot a whole day with Marco.

This little film will also be shown on the show this Saturday.

He shows how Marco lives in Penzberg and how he trains on the tennis facility at the former wave pool.

Marco found the day of shooting "very exhausting, but also very interesting".

Moderator Kai Pflaume was "corona-related" not there, according to Karin Ontiveros.

But her son had a lot of fun with the film team.

Three weeks later, and after Marco had practiced diligently how to push tennis balls and rackets instead of a bowling ball, he, his parents and brother Maxi (15) and trainer Roland Hecker took the train to Berlin.

Both travel and accommodation were paid for by the broadcaster, said Karin Ontiveros.

The Penzbergers stayed in the capital from Thursday evening to Sunday.

But they haven't seen much of it, says Marco.

His schedule was too tight, which included two whole trial days in the studio before the broadcast was recorded at the end.

Marco gets to know his role model Alexander Zverev

It was very impressive to be in such a large television studio for the first time, says Marco.

"That was really big and really cool with all the lights." But he wasn't particularly nervous.

Even if an incredible number of people were walking around there.

“But everyone was pretty nice”.

Also presenter Kai Pflaume.

He took a lot of time for every child who took part in the show.

Alexander Zverev in action © Kirsty Wigglesworth / dpa

He had not yet met his role model Alexander Zverev on the trial days;

not until Sunday, the day of the recording.

Before shooting started, the Olympic champion and world number three wanted to get to know Marco and therefore asked him to visit his locker room.

And?

How was it?

“He was pretty nice.

Nicer than I thought. ”They would have talked for a long time about their sport and the stress that it means for a young person to bring tennis and school under one roof.

The full professional Zverev did not give the young talent from Bavaria any tips for his sport.

In contact with tennis professionals

When the broadcast was recorded, the two of them then had to move nine pins in front of around 400 viewers simply by hitting them with their tennis rackets.

And that in three runs of one minute each.

Who won this tennis-bowling duel will of course not yet be revealed.

In any case, Marco draws an all-round positive balance of this very special tennis adventure.

It was "exciting and cool".

And he is still in contact with Alexander Zverev via WhatsApp.

They'll soon meet again at a tournament.

“And maybe I can hit a few balls with him then,” hopes Marco.

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