World number three Alexander Zverev blamed ATP Tour scheduling for his poor performance in Sunday’s Madrid Open final, where Carlos Alcaraz went ahead to lead a 6- 3, 6-1 in just 62 minutes.
Alcaraz had knocked out Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in the previous two rounds in six-hour matches but failed to win a single break point in the final as he fell short of the German, who was struggling in serve. .
“The scheduling needs to be done better … Yesterday, I started the match at 11 pm, I played three sets. Finished at 1:30,” Zverev told reporters.
“Until I get back to the hotel, until I eat, until I work the gym because I have to prepare my body for the next day, it’s 5am.
“If you stay up until 4:00-5:00 am, the next day you are tired. If you do this two nights in a row, you are completely dead. You are ruined, you will not be able to function physically. to the fullest extent.”
Carlos Alcaraz Wins Madrid Open
Zverev, the defending champion in Madrid, said he was saddened that the final lost its brilliance as fans expected an even match, although most were in favor of Spaniard Alcaraz. .
“Yes, most people in the stadium want Carlos to win and all that, but nobody wants to see a game like this,” added Zverev.
“Everybody wants to see a great game. Everyone wants to see some great tennis. But I’m human too, I’m not a robot. I simply can’t be at your level. me when this happens every night.
“Everybody said it was a bad game, I made two mistakes, I didn’t play well and all that. But look at what was happening the days before, look at what’s real. what’s happening behind the scenes. It’s not entirely fair.”
When asked about the domestic abuse allegations against him – after his ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova said he had emotionally and physically abused her – the German said it was a “difficult time”. towel” for him.
“The current world has a double standard where you have to prove you’re innocent. Until you’ve proven you’re innocent, basically, in the world we live in right now, sometimes it’s not very fair. “, said Zverev.
“But I hope it all comes to an end at some point. Then I can also play calmly and focus on my tennis.”
