ROLAND GARROS

June 4, 2021

Alexander Zverev

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/L. Djere

6-2, 7-5, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Your comments on today's match? Looks like you're getting more and more comfortable. No doubt conditions were a bit heavier today which may have made it a bit awkward, but you're looking pretty comfortable on the clay.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, I mean, it's not the first week we're playing on clay. Yeah, to be honest, I was very happy that I played on Chatrier, that we didn't stop the match, that we played with a closed roof.

Yeah, I mean, I felt comfortable today on court. It's getting important, because the matches are getting tougher. The opponents are getting tougher. I feel like now is the time where you need to start playing your best tennis to get through.

Q. Your thoughts going in against Kei? You have had his number the last couple of times. What about on this occasion? What are you expecting?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, I mean, I don't know if I had his number or not, but, yeah, Madrid it was a fantastic match for me. Generally Madrid was a fantastic tournament. In Rome it was a three-set battle. We played for a very long time. We played extremely long points.

It's gonna be difficult one. I think he's playing well, and he has a few five-set matches under his belt. I think today gives him time and helped him a little bit from a physical standpoint.

But, yeah, it's gonna be a tough one. I'm looking forward to the challenge.

Q. I want to have your opinion on the following statement: Is Roland Garros for you the most fashionable Grand Slam, as in people are well-dressed? Do you find they are better dressed than in other slams? What are your thoughts on that?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: (Laughter.) I don't know. Paris is very fashionable. But probably, I mean, if you think about well-dressed, probably going to be Wimbledon, isn't it? Everybody has to wear a suit and tie kind of when they watch Centre Court in a way.

See, that's how much I know. I didn't pay attention. But people are very well-dressed and they all look great (smiling).

Q. Firstly, you said some really kind things about me the other day. I just wanted to say thanks for that. It's greatly appreciated. You also said that sometimes you like to joke, but when you do you can get criticized. I was wondering, do you think you're misunderstood at times? If so, how would you like people to see you, firstly as a tennis player, and secondly as a person?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, I don't know if we're misunderstood or not but a lot of things are taken out of context from us because people need to sell a story. Simple as that.

We sometimes say things that we just say, we jokingly say it, we don't mean it in a way that it's always negative or anything like that. Yeah, the story is more important than what we actually think. Sometimes. Most of the time it's not, but just sometimes that's the way it is.

Yeah, I mean, look, I mean, obviously on the tennis court I want to be known as a champion. I think everybody, that's the main purpose of what we're playing for. We want to win, we want to compete, but also be known probably as a very fair guy, honest guy. Don't really, never had issues with that regards. But, yeah, maybe that's one thing that I want to be known for.

Q. Can you tell me your opinion about those three guys: Rafael, Novak, Roger, 34, 35, 39 years old? They are the old generation. You are the new one, the young one. Is it interesting to play all the time with them or difficult because they are all the time winning almost big titles?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Look, of course it's great that they are still around. I mean, I think everybody in tennis appreciates them. Everybody loves that they are still playing. All the fans appreciate, all the players appreciate.

We, I think, as our generation -- we are not the new generation anymore, by the way. We are not the young guys anymore. I think the Alcarazes of the world and the Sinners, they are the young guys. I don't consider myself young anymore.

But I know what you mean. It's great that they are still there, still there. I think this year there were four Masters Series. Three of them were won by our generation, by Hurkacz, Tsitsipas, and myself. Rafa obviously winning Rome.

I feel like the young guys are winning big titles, just not the Grand Slams yet, which, you know, I was very close at the US Open. Dominic has won the US Open. I don't know if you see him as our generation or not because he's a little bit older than us.

So it's up to us to kind of change the patterns of tennis a little bit, that we make sure that we also step up in Grand Slams, that we are competitive in Grand Slams, and that we give them a hard time.

But for now, they are still the best. Nobody is arguing with that.