US OPEN

August 27, 2021

Alexander Zverev

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Playing some great tennis lately. How much does that confidence that you have impact what you're able to do with your game?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, I mean, it's been a pretty incredible month for me. Obviously winning the gold medal is something that you don't even dream about as a tennis player because it's just so surreal in a way.

It's incredible. I mean, obviously the feeling that gave me, and also the Cincinnati week has been pretty good. I feel well. I hope I can kind of continue this wave here in New York and we'll see how it goes.

Q. You talk quite often about how you want a title here. You reached the final. How much did last year's experience here help you prepare for big moments?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I think in a way it fueled gas into the fire a little bit because I was two points away from winning it. I practiced on center court now a few times. There are still memories there. I still remember it, and I still have that in the back of my mind.

For me, I'm very motivated. I'm very much looking forward to getting back on that court and starting to compete, because I was not far away last year, as you know.

We'll see how it goes this year. But I'm very, very motivated.

Q. You're playing great tennis right now. (Question about allegations.) Did you know this was going to come out now? Is it difficult for you at this time that this has come up again?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: No, I've always said that the allegations and everything that has been said is untrue. The court confirmed that. So there's nothing else to say from my side because, as I said, the court confirmed that it's untrue. There's nothing more I can say towards that.

Q. What are your thoughts on the competition among the group of guys who are at the top of the game but who haven't yet won a major?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I've been asked this question now actually by a few TV stations, how does it feel not having Roger and Rafa here. We all miss them. We all love them to play forever. At some point they will have to retire.

I think the Cincinnati tournament, other tournaments this year, also showed that the competition and the rivalry that we have with the guys, the younger guys now, I think the top four or top five guys with Medvedev, Tsitsipas, myself, Rublev and Berrettini, we're having great battles, we're having very entertaining matches.

I think a lot of tennis fans are also looking forward to those matchups. I think in the future this will be no different. I think in Grand Slam finals and Grand Slam semifinals, those matchups will get more often and more common. I think it's also exciting to watch that.

Q. What would you say you've learned from your own experience and watching those guys, the big three, who have won so many majors, about what it takes to win the first one?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, I've been two points away last year here. I wasn't far away in a way. I've always since then still have memories of that. I still have thoughts on that.

I'm very happy to be back here, because now I can feel like I can go out on that court and I can prove myself, whether I got better since last year, what actually happened. I feel like I'm playing great tennis this year.

But I think the top three guys, I mean, they've been dominating for the past 15 or 20 years. We might never see that again. Don't expect this group of guys to be the next Djokovic, Federer and Nadal. I don't think the four of us are going to win 20 Grand Slams in the next 15 years each. That's not how it's going to go.

I think we're going to split them among us maybe. But the dominance those guys had is something you see once in a lifetime probably.

Q. You just said earlier that the court confirmed the allegations against you were wrong. I want to clarify exactly what you say the court confirmed. As far as I'm aware, you haven't had any trial or anything like that. Also, in your statement you said you'd be happy for the ATP to have a domestic violence policy. Would you be willing for them to investigate these claims themselves and speak to you about it?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, what do you mean? We didn't go to trial. If the court confirmed it, the court confirmed it. There's nothing else that I can say.

Also I've actually asked the ATP myself for the past six months to have something. It's going to get sorted in these kind of situations. I think it's good that the ATP is kind of renewing their rules a little bit because they've been there since the '80s and nothing has been changed in a way.

But regarding to my topic, I think my statement has been very clear. There's nothing else I can say or there's nothing else to say because I've said everything.

Q. I know you're focused on the US Open, but I'm going to ask you to look a couple weeks past that to the Laver Cup. You have been very much the hero in the three years you played. Only lost one match and you clinched it twice for Team Europe. What is the attraction for you for playing Laver Cup? How stacked is this European team this year?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Obviously we're missing the top three guys, two of the guys because of injury, Novak is just not playing. But our team is one of the strongest teams I think we ever had. We have all the young gun generation guys, which I think is great to see. Everybody is very motivated. I'm kind of the veteran there from the Laver Cup in a way, which I thought I'll never say (smiling).

But it's going to be a fun week I think because we all get along great, being with the teammates. I think we know each other for a very long time. It's going to be a fun, entertaining week for all of us.

Q. Everyone knows that you are a huge dog lover. I have two dogs I love very much, too. How do your dogs help your tennis? Have you taught them any tricks?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: My dogs are kind of like more privileged than some people. They eat at the table with us. They get fed out of the hands because otherwise they refuse to eat. They're just there for you. I think dogs are always kind of your best friend. Doesn't matter what's going on in your life, they'll always be there for you.

They're a very good way to calm myself down. They're a very good way to kind of just be there when you need them. They're also very good sleeping partners, which is very nice.