US OPEN

August 31, 2021

Alexander Zverev

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/S. Querrey

6-4, 7-5, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Tell us your thoughts on the match and your level of play going forward.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, I mean, for a first round I think it was good. I mean, Sam is somebody that on a hard court is extremely dangerous. Especially on a fast surface. I think Wimbledon he was in the semifinals.

So he was serving extremely well today. I'm happy to win in three sets, because a match like that can get out of your hands very quickly, and I'm happy to kind of have it under control.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You just mentioned Sam can be dangerous. How much does that help you knowing that you have to be super sharp right off the bat?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Sometimes it's good to know that you're playing a very difficult opponent the first round, because then you're extremely focused and you know you have to play at a high level.

If you look at a little bit of history, I was always struggling with the guys that may be a little bit unknown, maybe not ranked as high or didn't have a history of playing well in big events. Those are the guys I always struggled with in the first few rounds.

Today was good, I mean, for a first round. Obviously there are still a lot of things to improve. From the baseline I could still play a lot better. But to be honest, there were not a lot of baseline rallies. We were both serving quite well, and to return on this court is not easy.

Q. (Question about Djokovic and playing levels.)

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Same level, because if a guy wins three majors in the same year and then is at the US Open, you have to give him the favorite card. Because if not now, then when? He's won three majors.

To be honest, I think I was the first person to beat him on a hard court or grass court this season, and I was also the only person to beat him at a very, very big event this year.

Everything else he's won. I mean, yeah, he's the favorite. No question about that. But I think other guys are very hungry. I have said that before. I think a lot of guys are playing well. I think Daniil is in very good form. I think Stefanos can play well if he doesn't go to the moon and back for a toilet break, that will also help (smiling). I had to, I'm sorry.

And me, I have been playing good. I've won two tournaments, I'm on a 12-match winning streak. I hope I can keep the level up and maybe even play better, because to beat Novak here is going to be an extremely difficult task.

Q. A two-part question. Do you know anything about the toilets on the moon, is number one? What was your reaction about...

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: It was just again. It's happening every match. It's not normal. It happened to me in the French Open, to Novak at the finals the French Open. You know, I think in Hamburg against Krajinovic he was complaining, against me in Cincinnati was ridiculous, and now here again. I think players are catching up on that.

To be honest, he's the No. 3 player in the world. He's a top three player in the world. He's one of the best in the world at what he does. I do not believe that he needs to do that, because if you're top three in the world, you're one of the best in the sport. These kind of things happen at junior events, at futures, at challengers maybe, but not when you're top three in the world.

You are allowed to do that, but it's like a unwritten rule between players. That's something that I said it before, I mean, yes, I have been breaking racquets, I go insane sometimes and all that, but one thing I'm very proud of, and I will keep it for the rest of my career, is I win and lose by playing tennis on the tennis court.

Q. Do you think he had his phone in the bag in Cincinnati? Are you convinced of that? Were you surprised...

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: At the end of the day, I didn't ask that question, I didn't get asked that question in Cincinnati, which I was very surprised at, because I was going to answer that very truthfully and honestly. He's gone for 10-plus minutes. His dad is texting on the phone. He comes out, and all of a sudden his tactic completely changed. It's not just me but everybody saw it. The whole game plan changes.

I'm like either it's a very magical place he goes to or there is communication there. But I also don't want to disrespect him. He is a great player. He is No. 3 in the world for a reason. He's winning tournaments and playing incredible tennis this year for a reason, so it's not only that.

But I do believe, and Andy said it, as well, there is some level of respect that everybody needs to have between players. I feel like, yeah, sometimes -- or he might just go to the toilet. We don't know that. That's also possible. But it just happens too often, I would say.

Q. Just getting back to something you said the other day regarding your off-the-court issue, you had said that the German court had confirmed your side and they had agreed that nothing had happened. In reading the ruling, it seems like it's much more of a technical ruling about German law regarding what people can write and what they can't write. I wanted to ask you, to get back to the question, whether you'd be willing to cooperate with an independent investigation like the ATP is talking about for when they review their system?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I have said everything. I think my statement was very, very clear, and I think the German court system is also very clear. Just because we're not in Germany right now doesn't mean that the court system is not great.

I have said everything before. And there is also, I mean, there is going to be also further proceedings from my side because I will not let that sit on me, and that's it. I'm not going to comment on it any further, because to be honest, I have been dealing with it for a long time now, and you guys need to be fair to me as well, because we are talking about mental health and all that to players, and this is not healthy for me either.

I'm very happy with how things went in the past few days, few weeks. I think a lot of people try to twist what I said and try to twist my words on that statement, but I think it was very, very clear. That's it.