THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 1, 2021

Alexander Zverev

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/T. Sandgren

7-5, 6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Looked very comfortable today. You were super relaxed. You were joking around out there. Wondering if you have ever had that happen very often where the opponents can't keep the tennis balls in their pockets and end up losing points against you.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: No, first time that happened. Yeah, I mean, look, it's an unfortunate way to lose points. The second time I stopped -- the ball was right at his feet. I couldn't have continued playing because it would have been dangerous for him.

It's an odd way to win a point, but unfortunately it happens. Maybe he needs to talk to his clothing provider a little bit and ask for some deeper pockets.

Q. Through two matches now. You have looked very relaxed. Are you feeling pretty good now?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, I mean, as you said, I feel pretty well. Of course I know that the opponents are getting tougher. I know that I need to play better tennis. But all in all, I'm happy where I am. As you said, I hope I can continue to build on my form.

Q. It was obviously quite a fun match to play in, looked like there was a lot of banter and a lot of chitchat and interaction with the crowd. Is a match like that sometimes kind of refreshing? When you're in a Grand Slam obviously it's very stressful and it's very serious, but to get a game like that, it seemed like a fun day at the office.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I think it's not common to have days like that, matches like that. But Tennys has a very good sense of humor. I think the British crowd have a great sense of humor. You can't really do that if the crowd doesn't have great sense of humor.

I do enjoy those kind of moments. I do enjoy those kind of interaction with fans, because I feel like, yes, as you said, Grand Slams are so serious, our sport is very, very serious because if you lose focus for a second, the match can turn around very quickly.

I do believe that these kind of things are also very good for our sport.

Q. You said that you need to play better tennis. What can you do much better than that? I thought that was pretty faultless.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: No, in a way that my opponents also are going to get better. I think it naturally comes. If you're playing against a Novak, if you're playing against Nadal or someone like that, you raise your level and they raise their level as well because it's a more competitive match.

I think those matches are the most fun to watch. I feel like the top guys always raise their level in the second week of Grand Slams. I hope to do that as well.

Look, I played good. For a second round, I played very decent tennis. But I also do know that there will be guys, there will be opponents who will not let me play this well and who will try to break my rhythm, who will try to break my game up. Those are the kind of moments where I will need to step up and play even better.

Q. Do you think you've got the game to win here this year?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I do believe I'm at a stage where I come to a tournament to win it. I think it's no secret that Novak is the favorite. I think he's an even bigger favorite here than all the other Grand Slams simply because of the surface. I think I said that before. I think the young guys still need to learn how to play on a grass court. But we are doing that with each year. We need to learn how to move on it, we need to know the position of the court.

But I think I've said it before, I'm not in a position right now where I'm satisfied with just a quarterfinal or a semifinal, something like that. I am here to compete and at least give myself the best chance to do so.

Q. You spoke a bit about the matches getting tougher. We don't know for sure yet who your next opponent will be, because they haven't played yet. But they are two guys you've played, Taylor Fritz and Stevie Johnson. Can you describe with Taylor, somebody you played here with a five-set match, what the challenge is and maybe discuss what the situation will be if you face Steve.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, I mean, with Taylor I'm very surprised actually because he had knee surgery, what, three weeks ago? I'm very surprised that he's actually playing here and I'm very surprised how well he's playing. I have to give credit to him for coming back this quickly.

I think on a grass court he's extremely dangerous. He has a very fast serve, has big weapons. We played a very difficult match here. So if it's him, I'm looking forward it because I know it's not going to be easy.

Then Stevie, obviously grass court is his favorite surface. He's won tournaments on this surface. He's reached later rounds at Wimbledon as well a few times. So it's going to be a challenge, which I'm looking forward to.