THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 3, 2021

Alexander Zverev

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/T. Fritz

6-7, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What was the key behind that win?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, today was probably not the best match I played so far this tournament just feeling-wise, how comfortable I was. But I found a way to win. That's the most important.

At the end of the day Taylor is a great player. I think everybody is surprised he's playing this well, came back so early after the surgery that he had. I got to give credits to him. He played a very good match.

I thought his tactic was very clear. I thought he had a very clear game plan, and he was following that. At the end of the day he made it very difficult for me. But I'm happy to be in the fourth round.

Q. What are your thoughts about facing Felix, knowing the matches that you've had against him, and the way he's playing right now?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I do believe that grass is his best surface. I think he's played fantastic so far. I know today's match was supposed to be a big highlight for the tournament, which didn't go that way.

But, yeah, I think it's the fourth round. There's no easy players any more. There's no good draws any more. I think everybody knows how to play, everybody has won three matches, everybody has to be in pretty good form to be here.

Q. What are the features of his game that you find the most impressive, well-suited to grass?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I think he enjoys low balls. I think he can generate a lot of power out of low balls because of the spin he has, because of the acceleration, the racquet speed that he has. A lot of players struggle with lower balls, struggle to play aggressive. I think he quite enjoys that.

I think that feature not a lot of people can do. I think that suits the grass court very well.

Q. Entry list of the Olympics was announced a couple days ago. You're playing singles and doubles.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah.

Q. Japanese fans are looking forward to seeing you there. How excited are you? How different is it to play not only for you but for the country?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I think I answered this question many times.

It's going to be a very special moment. I was supposed to go to Rio in 2016 but I got a little bit sick. Unfortunately I had to stay in Florida.

It's my first Olympics. I hope I'll have many more to come. I'm very excited. It's my first time in Japan, as well. It's one of the places that I've never been to, so that is going to be exciting for me, as well.

Of course with the COVID-19 virus, it is very different. I think the rules will be very different to what's normal Olympic games.

But I'm excited for it. I'm excited to play for my country, I'm excited to represent my country there. I'm going to do everything I can to win medals there.

Q. How important is experience in the second week at majors, the confidence that goes with reaching the finals?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I think it's very important. I think that's why the big three have been so dominant at Grand Slams. I think the young guys now this year have been quite dominant at the Masters and other events. But still at the slams Novak has come through both in Australia and Roland Garros.

I think experience plays a big part. I think knowing how to manage your time, knowing how to manage your matches, is a big part of it. It was something that I needed to learn in the beginning of my career. I remember when a lot of people were criticizing me for this guy that was playing extremely well at big tournaments, but never at slams.

I hope I kind of changed my position on that a little bit. But of course the main goal is still to win them. I think a lot of guys are still very hungry, a lot of guys are still very passionate. I think a lot of people are looking forward to the second week, a lot of people are looking forward to playing the best, which obviously of course includes Novak and other guys as well.