ROLAND GARROS

May 30, 2021

Alexander Zverev

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/O. Otte

3-6, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. That turned into one heck of a battle. How were you able to get back into the match after losing those first two sets?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, I thought that in the first two sets he played actually quite well. He did exactly what somebody needs to do who is playing a top player in the first round of a major.

He already played three matches. I didn't have the match rhythm yet. Yeah, he did everything right I feel like. He was serving well. He was, you know, hitting the ball hard whenever he had the chance.

I was reacting. I was reacting most of the time. And then once I got the break in the third set, I started to maybe hit the ball a little bit harder with my backhand. My forehand started to be a little bit heavier, I thought, and I didn't give him as many chances to play aggressive anymore.

Q. You're now 7-0 in five-setters here, and your five-set record overall is great, as we know. When people fall behind by two sets you'd think maybe they get frustrated or show it a little bit. How are you able to so consistently fight back as you do?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I don't know. I mean, I feel quite confident maybe in my physical stand. From that side maybe I know I can go the distance. I don't always need to. I know that, as well, but when I need to, you know, I feel comfortable doing that.

Yeah, at the end of the day, I mean, even today, yes, he was playing -- he was playing great. He was doing all the right things, but still, I was not playing great. I was not playing well. I knew once my ball started to go a little bit deeper, once my ball started to be a little bit heavier, he would not be able to do the things he was doing the first two sets.

Yeah, I feel like that changed a little bit also in the third set. In the fourth set once I got the break I saw that he was starting to get a little bit more tired, and, yeah, I tried to play as quickly as possible to not let him back in the match.

Q. At the beginning of the match, granted on what you just said that he played really well, did you feel a little bit on edge at all coming up against another German, somebody ranked quite low, had come through the qualifying? And first round of a major, you know, the big names can always be a little bit susceptible to an upset and they're dangerous times. Were you a little bit on edge at the beginning as well?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: No. As I said, I didn't have the match rhythm yet. It's very different towards the practice. To be honest, me and Dominic, we practiced yesterday, we had an incredible practice. The way we were playing, the level was incredibly high, and he lost today.

Matches and practices are still a little bit different. You still need the matches, you still need to get into the tournament. He already had three matches, I think that's a big difference.

Yeah, once I got into the match I feel like I was more comfortable as well in the all-around game.

Q. You mentioned your practice with Dominic. To what extent, when you see a result like that, do you think about it at all, knowing it's in your section, or are you just solely focusing on what's in front of you? How much does that impact you?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, to be very honest, I think it did have a little impact on me at the beginning of the match, because yes, you try to focus on yourself, you try to not pay too much attention, but you do know the draw. You know who is where. You know that Dominic is one of the best clay court players, especially here, one of the toughest opponents you can have, and then he's out.

So yes, it does affect you a little bit. But maybe that was part of the reason why I was a little bit nervous in the beginning was I started off a little bit slow.

But, yeah, as I said, all in all, I'm happy to be through. At the end of the day, that's all that matters for me right now.

Q. Can you just tell me, A, can you give me some advice on my timekeeping and ways I can make sure I won't be late for the next big event? How will you be spending the next few days before your next-round match? Now I'm here, what's the one thing I can buy you to celebrate your win?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Oh, God (smiling). Whatever you desire. I don't particularly know.

No, but, I mean, the next few days obviously I'll practice, I'll get ready for the next match, I'll still try to find my game even better. Nothing spectacular. We are still here in the bubble, still not really getting out, so it's not much that we are doing.

We can't go to the supermarket like you are doing right now. But, yeah, at the end of the day we are here to play tennis and we are here to compete in one of the biggest events in the world, so we need to focus on that.