US Open: Alexander Zverev - "I don't want to have this image"
Alexander Zverev has found a few selected words for some of his playmates after his third round success at the 2019 US Open.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Sep 01, 2019, 08:26 am
By Jens Huiber from New York City
Alexander Zverev took the momentum from his success against Aljaz Bedene straight away, almost taking Interview Room 1 by storm. Less than half an hour after a four-set victory against the Slovenes, Zverev held an audience, naturally satisfied with what was achieved. Good. Not good. Because then the language came up on a topic that was very close to Zverev's heart when he played against Frances Tiafoe: the appearance of the generation to which he, although long established in the top ten and ruling champion of the ATP Finals, still belongs feels: the next one. Tiafoe had tried to break his opponent's rhythm with an impressive twelve-minute toilet break, Zverev was not happy. Such an action would not shed good light on all of the players coming up.
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"Khachanov is an incredible guy"
That was, however, before Daniil Medvedev's already memorable performance on Friday evening at Louis Armstrong Stadium. The Russian took great pleasure in turning the audience against himself. Won his match against Feliciano Lopez and thanked the audience somewhat cynically. Alexander Zverev did not appreciate that.
"I don't really understand what Medvedev was doing," the 22-year-old said. "And I hope that the media and the audience don't put us young players all in one pot. There are many pure tennis players like me. When I get mad, I get mad at myself, I don't go against the whole audience. (Karen) Khachanov is an incredible guy, (Alex) de Minaur plays incredible tennis, there are a lot of young players like Félix (Auger-Aliassime) - we let our racket talk. ”
Zverev - "Don't lump everyone"
"But there are others, many who do the opposite," Zverev continued. “Of course, Tsitsipas and Medvedev play very good tennis. They are all right in the top ten. But Tsitsipas, for example, does a lot to get the opponent out. Like the action with the shoes in Washington. You don't have to do anything, not even what he did here (note: Tsitsipas had taken a toilet break of several minutes in the middle of the set against Andrey Rublev). You could say now that it's none of my business. But do it. Because I don't want to have this image. "
He does everything to win tennis games. But only in areas that affect him himself, Zverev continues. And he very much hoped that the players addressed could learn that too.