Australian Open: Alexander Zverev: "It's not fair that someone comes here and can't play"
Alexander Zverev commentedon the Djokovic case at the Australian Open Media Day and drew a differentiated picture.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jan 16, 2022, 10:59 am
You don't have to be a great prophet to anticipate, as the media officer for the ATP stars, that there could be a question about the cause of Novak Djokovic's entry at the Australian Open Media Day. The tennis world is dominated by the fact that the Serb has had his visa canceled for the second time. No topic polarizes so much.
Alexander Zverev, who is one of the absolute top favorites for the title at the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, was also allowed to give his assessment of the Djokovic case in the obligatory media commitments in the run-up to the Australian Open. In summary: It's complicated. As complicated as the story itself is now simple.
Zverev names his group of favorites
Wouldn't there be far more favorites for the title if the Serb really wasn't allowed to start? no "Of course Novak is the top favorite in every tournament he plays, especially on this surface and in this tournament that he has won nine times," said Zverev. At the same time, however, there are quite a few players who have been able to recommend themselves as favorites for the tournament Down Under in the past.
"I think there are many other tennis players who have had good results here in Melbourne. Medvedev, Tsitsipas and even myself. I trained with Rafa one day and to be honest it's like I see him at a good level too see", explained the current third in the world rankings. "Nevertheless, there are many tennis players who can surprise us all and become champions of the tournament."
Zverev is differentiated
Did he, Zverev, have contact with Djokovic? Sparse. "I spoke to him last and gave him my full support. His phone is probably off now." Overall, however, the contact was limited. "Last night we all thought he would play the tournament. We'll see how everything develops," said Germany's number one.
Of course, the most important thing came at the end. Is it fair how the world number one - who was arrested again on Saturday - is treated? Again, the answer is not unequivocal. On the one hand, you have to understand people's reactions. "The fact that it's Novak Djokovic makes people think he has a number of privileges that others don't have," Zverev said.
And on the other side? Zverev: "I really don't know enough on the subject, but I think if it weren't for Djokovic there wouldn't be such a big drama." It was difficult for him to comment on the rest, after all he was not a politician. He, Zverev, "can only say that it's not fair that a person comes here and can't play."