Alexander Zverev criticizes the fixtures in Madrid. © APA / afp / OSCAR DEL POZO
Tennis Olympic champion Alexander Zverev harshly criticized the men’s organization ATP after his defeat in the final in Madrid.
09. May 2022
From: dpa/fop
“The work of the ATP this week was an absolute shame,” said Zverev on Sunday after his clear 3: 6, 1: 6 against young Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz. “Two days ago I went to bed around 4.00 a.m., 4.30 a.m., yesterday I went to bed at 5.20 a.m.,” said Zverev.
“If a normal person goes to bed one night at 4 a.m. and the next night at 5 a.m., it will be difficult for them to get up at all,” said the German number one. And for him, a final in a Masters 1000 tournament was on the program the next day, “against Carlos Alcaraz, who for me is the best player in the world at the moment,” said Zverev.
Praise for Alcaraz
Alcaraz had beaten Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic one after the other in Madrid and then Zverev in the final. “I don’t want to belittle Carlos’ performance at all. Even if I had been fit, I probably wouldn’t have stood a chance against him today,” said the German number one. “But it was difficult for me today. I had no coordination on my serve, no coordination on my groundstrokes,” said Zverev, who won the tournament at Caja Magica last year.
With the entry into the final, however, Zverev showed that his form curve is pointing upwards two weeks before the French Open in Paris. From Madrid, the 25-year-old is now going to Rome, where the next clay court event in the Masters 1000 category is scheduled for this week. In the first round, Zverev has a bye. In addition to the new coach Sergi Bruguera, Zverev’s father will also be back in Rome. Alcaraz will not start due to minor ankle problems.
