After the failed dress rehearsal for the US Open, Alexander Zverev didn’t want to take off the face mask. At the video press conference after the 3: 6, 6: 3, 5: 7 in the 2nd round of the ATP tournament in New York against the Scot Andy Murray, the 23-year-old Hamburg tennis professional was alone in a room on Monday evening and was a supervisor even pointed this out – but Germany’s number one preferred to keep the light blue mask on and patiently answered all questions. Really all. Also the unpleasant ones about the Adriatic tour and the consequences in the middle of the corona pandemic. »I made a mistake with the Adriatic tour and then with the birthday party. I made a huge mistake and of course I can understand people, “said Zverev, criticizing his behavior. He did not put anyone in danger except himself and had repeatedly tested negative for the corona virus. “But of course it wasn’t the smartest thing in the world.”
At the beginning of the month he had broken off a press conference when the questions about the controversial event started, this time he remained friendly, open and reflective. Zverev and tour organizer Novak Djokovic emphasized in an interview with the New York Times that all local rules were followed. But he also admitted: “Having a kids day with 5,000 children or playing in front of an audience might not have been the smartest thing ever. But it was just a good attempt to bring tennis back so that people could have something to watch again. It didn’t work the way it was supposed to. “
Parties, claps, spectators – at the end of the Adriatic tour, which was then prematurely canceled, in addition to the Serb Djokovic and his wife, other players and supervisors were infected with the corona virus and the criticism was loud. Zverev was rueful and announced self-isolation. Shortly afterwards, however, a video of him partying appeared. Because he didn’t comment afterwards and also canceled his participation in an invitation tournament in Berlin at short notice, the anger was great. “After the Adria Tour, my management said: Better stay at home,” Zverev explained. “Sure, I was negative. I was tested negative seven times after the Adria Tour, which I can prove. But there were a few spectators again in Berlin and I just didn’t want to take the risk again. “
Well, at the Masters event moved from Cincinnati to New York, the crowd consists only of other tennis pros and people who also live in the bubble. The US east coast is a long way from being full of ranks like on the Adriatic. Anyone who saw the game against Andy Murray on Monday evening could see how Zverev still had difficulties with his second serve too often. “I’ve been working on that for the past six months. During the game it was actually quite okay, but in the important moments it was gone again, “said Zverev, who recently started coaching former Spanish professional David Ferrer.
The Hamburg resident did not like the defeat – after all, until the start of the Grand Slam next Monday there is no further chance to get in shape under competitive conditions. The last match before the US Open did not worry him unduly. “It’s the first official tournament in six months, so it’s normal that not everyone can play their best tennis straight away,” explained Zverev.dpa / nd
.
