"Zverev's mixed feelings: The world won't end"

French Tennis Championship - "Zverev's mixed feelings: The world won't end"

Alexander Zverev's Paris journey ended without a title but not without determination. The shattered dream of winning his first Grand Slam tournament and a controversial umpire decision hadn't overshadowed his hopes. "What's next? How would a normal person handle this?" Zverev said calmly. "Life goes on."

Less than 24 hours after his draining loss in the French Open final against the young Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz (21), the 27-year-old was planning a trip to Switzerland for a sponsor event and then to Berlin. "I have to meet someone there, someone I always see after tournaments," Zverev revealed. While his girlfriend Sophia Thomalla resides in Berlin and is expected back by Monday from a TV shoot in Thailand, his daughter Mayla (3) might have been the intended visitor.

Zverev had struck a deal with his mother in the midst of the French Open. They agreed to drop charges of bodily harm against him. The Berlin District Court had informed them they'd resolve the conflict amicably, with a fine of 200,000 euros and no conviction. Zverev, asserting his innocence, shared "I'm grateful that it's done."

In light of this, Zverev's statements about the cancellation of the Stuttgart lawn tournament reveal his inner disappointment. "The chances of me playing in Stuttgart are as high as the probability of me leaving and winning the final." In other words, Zverev's chances were minimal.

Zverev's mind was stuck in the past, with regrets and a questionable umpiring decision haunting him. In the 5th set at 1:2 and 40:15 for Zverev, a line call was made for Alcaraz's service, but overruled by the chair umpire, Renaud Lichtenstein, based on a sand mark. The incorrect decision backed by Hawk-Eye images later only added to his dismay.

In spite of this, Alcaraz returned the service game, bringing it to 3:1, and eventually winning the set and the tournament. The first-time Grand Slam champion, at 21, has now claimed titles on all three surfaces - clay, grass, and hardcourt. Zverev described it as "disappointing," yet added, "That's life. Umpires are people - and they can make mistakes."

Highlighting Alcaraz's performance, Zverev remarked, "He's an animal - a beast." He acknowledged the intense challenge Alcaraz had presented, and stated his goal: "I need to get physically to a different level to compete with him."

Zverev demonstrated notable endurance, spending a total of 23 hours and 46 minutes on court during the tournament, including three five-set matches. "What I've learned here," he mused, "I need to attain a whole new level of fitness."

Before the upcoming grass-court event in Halle/Westphalia and the Wimbledon tournament at the beginning of July, Zverev first plans to recuperate from the physical and emotional fatigue. In the past, he's never made it past the eighth round on the grass surface he's not particularly fond of.

Read also:

1. Despite his loss in the French Open, Alexander Zverev was scheduled to visit Switzerland and Berlin afterwards for sponsor events and personal commitments.
2. Zverev's mother and girlfriend, Sophia Thomalla, reside in Berlin and Berlin District Court had previously settled the bodily injury charges against him with a fine of 200,000 euros.
3. Following his draining loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final, Zverev was grappling with inner frustration and a contentious umpire decision.
4. Alexander Zverev lamented the cancellation of the Stuttgart lawn tournament due to his lack of chances in playing or winning the final, reflecting his disappointment.
5. The controversy around the umpire decision in the 5th set, overruling a line call for Alcaraz's service in favor of Zverev, led to a deciding factor in Alcaraz's victory and the French Open title.
6. The Tiergarten Local Court had played a role in resolving the conflict between Zverev and his mother, with a fine of 200,000 euros versus no conviction.
7. Alexander Zverev acknowledged the dominance of young Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz, calling him "an animal - a beast" and articulated the need for physical improvement to compete with him.
8. Alcaraz, the first-time Grand Slam champion at 21, demonstrated supremacy across all three surfaces, including clay, grass, and hardcourt.
9. As he prepares for the grass-court event in Halle/Westphalia and the Wimbledon tournament, Zverev prioritizes recovery from the intense physical and emotional toll of the French Open.
10. Zverev's impressive display in the French Open, totaling 23 hours and 46 minutes on court, including three five-set matches, revealed the pertinence of enhancing his fitness level.
11. The French Open hosted numerous tennis players, including both Zverev and Alcaraz, as well as players from Germany, Spain, Switzerland, and Thailand, showcasing the international Grand Slam tournament's diversity.

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