After his sobering and dramatic defeat in the first round in Wimbledon, the German tennis professional is unusual and open in a remarkable press conference.
When Alexander Zverev entered the stage of the “Media Theater” slowly two hours after his defeat, nothing looked like the next few minutes would be remembered for a long time.
The moderator of the press conference opened the round with the careful question of whether he could share his thoughts about this difficult day: “I don’t have a lot of thought to be honest.” What followed could have been a press conference that has been experienced so often after Zverev’s defeats. Short, slightly clever -sounding answers to justified questions about shape, game course and foundation. No gain in knowledge. On the next tournament.
However, Zverev decided this Tuesday to give insights into his soul life, to lower the tract bridge of the protection of personal castle. Statements to feel alone on the pitch, to be in a hole that you don’t get out of at the moment, had never been heard from the 28-year-old.
Zverev has often been accused of finding excuses for defeats again and again in the past few months. Be it the temperatures at the French Open during his defeat against Novak Djokovic or what he believes poor quality of the balls, which does not meet his game. He always showed his own mistake, emphasized mantra -like, his style of play and his coaching situation with his father as the sole coach did not require any revision.
More and more tennis professionals are talking about mental problems
More and more tennis professionals are daring to talk about mental difficulties. And more and more players also address and reflect on their role, their needs and the constraints that such a life as a tennis professional brings with them. Andrey Rublev, for example, who spoke about depression in an interview with the “Guardian” at the beginning of the year. Casper Ruud was also extremely open after his victory at Madrid in Madrid when he described the tour life as a “hamster wheel”, from which he did not find out for a long time.
Lars Pegegelow, Sportschau, 01.07.2025 9:42 p.m.
So now Zverev. The question arises how he deals with this self -knowledge. His tournament plan provides to compete on sand at a smaller tournament in Gstaad in Switzerland in two weeks. Then it goes to Canada. Preparation for the US Open in New York at the end of August begins with the Masters in Toronto. According to the statements at the press conference, his stake in Switzerland seems at least unsafe. When asked whether he is rethinking the composition of his closest training environment, he replied: “I hope I have answers in Canada in four weeks. “
Alexander Zverev does not find any solutions against Arthur Rinderknech
It is the first long break for Hamburg this year. After the clear defeat for him in Melbourne in the final of the Australian Open against Jannik Sinner, according to his own statements, he had a racket in his hand again a day and a half. The less successful South America trip, the unsuccessful hunt for number 1 in the world rankings during the three-month doping lock by Jannik Sinner. All of this does not seem to have passed Zverev without a trace.
Every week in a different place
The game plan is relentless. Since the start of the European sandplace season in Monte Carlo in mid -April until the week before the start in Wimbledon every week in another place. In Munich, Hamburg, Stuttgart and Halle, Zverev was not only the face of the tournament as a player, but also as a tournament representative. The dates outside of his matches apparently did not allow a breath.
Zverev now had time for the early defeat in Wimbledon. Almost two weeks offers space for reflection, to the personal inventory. It will be shown whether he uses this time, whether he is opening up changes in his environment.
Sportschau, 01.07.2025 10:55 p.m.
Zverev’s brother Mischa, at the broadcasting streaming service Prime Video in the team of experts, pulled the train bridge back late in the evening. When asked how his brother was doing, he replied relaxed: “So far he’s fine. He has lost now. Then of course you are sad, disappointed, but he has no broken bone. Otherwise he doesn’t miss anything. After defeats you are emotional 24 to 48 hours.“