“Not so healthy anymore”: tennis star Zverev sharply criticizes the French Open

Alexander Zverev is critical of the late start of the evening games at the French Open. “If we play five sets, it can go until two in the morning,” said the Olympic tennis champion after reaching the round of 16 in Paris early on Sunday morning. “Somewhere it’s not so healthy for the player who wins the match and then has to play again the next day like now.” Basically, he likes the so-called night sessions, he emphasized, but it’s more comfortable for the body to go to sleep at 11 p.m.

Zverev had prevailed in the third round of the clay court classic 3: 6, 7: 6 (6: 3), 6: 1, 7: 6 (7: 5) against the American Frances Tiafoe. The game started after 8:30 p.m. and ended 18 minutes after midnight.

Tennis star Zverev demands night sessions for women

“I think that in the night sessions you can let the women play because they play a maximum of three sets,” said Zverev shortly before half past one. “If you play four or five sets, you’re still here after midnight, then you go to bed at four or five in the morning.” Only one of the seven night sessions at this tournament has been scheduled for players.

In the round of the top 16, Zverev meets the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, who prevented a German round of 16 duel with his three-set victory over Daniel Altmaier. “It’s not going to get any easier, that’s for sure. I’m happy to be here in the second week and hopefully I’ll still have a long way to go here,” said Zverev about his prospects.

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The chance of reaching the semi-finals again like last year when he injured his ankle against Rafael Nadal is not bad. Zverev could only meet a higher seeded player again in the semifinals. “He got better and looser from set to set,” praised Eurosport expert Boris Becker. “That was a very important victory for Sascha for the second week. I have a good feeling that something is still possible.” (dpa/dv)