MUTUA MADRID OPEN

May 9, 2021

Alexander Zverev

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/M. Berrettini

6-7, 6-4, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You pulled off back-to-back-to-back top 10 wins in beating Rafa, Domi and Matteo. What was most remarkable about it? Has this been your best week of tennis in recent memory?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I think it was a good week for me. I mean, obviously, as I said today on court, Matteo today was extremely difficult for me in a way that I didn't play anybody who serves 235, dominates the ball like he does. Against Rafa and Dominic, the matches were different. I mean, both obviously great players on clay, maybe the two best players right now.

Yeah, against Matteo was extremely difficult just getting the ball back in play, getting the ball deep enough to have the chance to win the point.

Yeah, coming back from a set down to win the title here, I'm extremely happy with that.

Q. This is obviously a big boost for you in the Race to Turin. How important is it for you to be up there on the heels of Stefanos, Andrey, Daniil and Novak?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Honestly, I don't know where I am in the race. I don't particularly care right now.

Look, at the end of the day I just won a Masters. It's my fourth one. I'm happy with that. That's for me one of the most important things right now.

Obviously I want to be happy for about 30 seconds, then obviously Rome is next. There's still big tournaments coming up.

Q. You're obviously very happy, as you should be, with this title. Can you reflect on the significance of this, to win a fourth Masters in the middle of such an important time of the year? Do you also feel that the altitude conditions played a part in you winning this championship?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, definitely. I think, look, it's extremely important. I think the clay court season, also to do well at the French Open, you need to be playing well during the clay court season. That is in a way important for me, as well.

At the end of the day I won a Masters. There's really very little in terms of bigger than this one right here. I'm happy. I'm happy with this achievement. Obviously, yeah, I look forward to the next few weeks. I look forward to what's ahead.

Yeah, I mean, the altitude, of course, plays a role in the match. I think Matteo will say the same. I think the altitude is helpful to some players, not helpful to others. I must be feeling okay here.

Q. You lost one set finally.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, you were right unfortunately (laughter).

Q. At the end you won. Do you have any grandfather who is Italian maybe? You said the German press, they don't come, they don't follow you, they don't seem to be interested in you. We are very much interested in you. If you have a chance to have an Italian passport, please come and play with us.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, yeah. I'm not going to answer this because I don't want to make any story out of it, to be honest (smiling). Yeah, thank you for the invite though.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in German.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: None? I just won a Masters and there's none in German? As you see, the Germans really don't care.