Zverev's frustration after missed chance: "It was just a blow"
Alexander Zverev was deeply frustrated after losing to his long-time rival Daniil Medvedev. "I have the feeling that I'm playing good tennis. But I no longer have it in my own hands," said Zverev after the 6:7 (7:9), 4:6 defeat against the world number three from Russia.
Only if Medvedev, who has already qualified for the semi-finals, also wins against Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz from Spain on Friday (2.30 pm/Sky) will Zverev still have a chance of reaching the semi-finals in the evening match (8.30 pm/Sky) against the already eliminated Russian Andrei Rublev. With a win, the Olympic champion would then perfect his progress.
"In an unfavorable situation"
"I'm now in an unfavorable situation. You never want that, you always want to have everything in your own hands," said Zverev. The 26-year-old struggled in particular with a very simple volley, which he put into the net at 4:1 in the tie-break of the first set. "It was just one shot today. The one volley that I hit nine times out of ten attempts, unfortunately that was it today," said Zverev.
Medvedev then turned the tie-break around and took the first set. In the second, a break point was enough for the Russian to decide the match and punch his ticket to the semi-finals. "It's bitter because I think the tennis I play deserved more than a defeat in two sets," said Zverev.
Now he has to keep his fingers crossed for Medvedev, of all people, with whom he has had many an argument on the tour and whom he described as "the most unfair player" in Monte-Carlo in April. "On Friday, I'll be the biggest Daniil Medvedev fan there is on this planet," said Zverev.
Despite the ATP Finals in Turin, Alexander Zverev's chances of reaching the semi-finals hinge on Medvedev's results. If Medvedev wins against Alcaraz, Zverev will need to defeat Rublev later that day to advance. Despite playing well, Zverev was disappointed by a misplaced volley in the crucial tie-break, which ultimately cost him the first set.
Source: www.dpa.com
