Alexander Zverev: "It is now more difficult for us through social media"
Alexander Zverev has had a very successful start in the Australian Open. After the messed-up ATP Cup, several experts had confirmed that the German had a form crisis, and now the 22-year-old is teaching his critics better. In the interview after his second round victory, the German speaks above all about the sensitive topic of social media.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jan 24, 2020, 02:11 pm
After the poor performance at the ATP Cup in early January, Alexander Zverev had hardly anyone on the bill for a good performance at the Australian Open. Above all mentally, the German gave a scary picture in Brisbane. Now the first two rounds of the Australian Open are over and Alexander Zverev has once again played on the list of secret favorites at the first Grand Slam of the year. The 22-year-old still played in the top 32 without losing a set, although the French Open semi-finalists of 2018 had to be eliminated in the opening match with Marco Cecchinato.
Alexander Zverev also remained impeccable on lap two and moved into the third round of the Grand Slam Down Under for the fourth time. In the interview after his second round victory over Egor Gerasimov, Zverev then raised a problem that is completely off the tennis court.
When asked if one expected too much from the young players, Zverev had a clear answer: “I think that it is different today than it was twenty years ago. With our smartphones, we simply get a lot more of the pressure that the media and other people put on us. In the past you had to buy a newspaper to read the news, today you only need to open Instagram and suddenly five million people have an opinion about you. ”
"Novak, Roger and Rafa are simply better because they win"
However, Zverev does not see the new communication technologies as an excuse for the dominance of the Big Three: “Perhaps it is now more difficult for us. On the other hand, Novak, Rafa and Roger are simply better than us because they win. ” However, the dominance of Djokovic, Nadal and Federer could wobble a bit with the first breakthrough of a next-gen player at Grand Slam level: Although it does some don't want to admit because we have very different relationships, but if one of us wins a Grand Slam, it will be easier for the others. ”
Alexander Zverev, however, has found his own solution to the problem with social media: "I try to be on social media as little as possible during Grand Slams and big tournaments." And then made a curious statement: "No reproach against you , but I don't actually read what you write. You can write what you want about me, I will not be offended. ”Zverev would not get too many negative headlines anyway, so far the German's appearances at the Autralian Open have been too convincing.
For Zverev, it continues on Saturday against the Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco.
Click here for the entire tableau of the Australian Open.
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