NITTO ATP FINALS

November 16, 2021

Alexander Zverev

Pala Alpitour, Torino

Press Conference

D. MEDVEDEV/A. Zverev

6-3, 6-7, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Your view on that match? There was some gripping tennis played and certainly a nail biter towards the end of that third set. What about your summation of the match?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Was Daniil already in here?

Q. No.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I think it was good. I think we both played pretty well. I mean, I think we both served extremely well, I mean, the opening game on my serve, we both didn't get broken.

I mean, the surface is very fast. The court is very fast. The balls are very fast. I think for those conditions we played extremely well.

Q. How devastated were you feeling at the end?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I'm okay. I mean, to be honest, in my personal opinion I think we both have very good chance of passing the group. This is not like any other tournament. I am in the tournament still. I still have chance to win the tournament. This is what I'm thinking to myself.

Of course I want to win. There is no doubt about it. I lost 8-6 in the third-set tiebreaker, but the tournament isn't done yet.

Q. Obviously all players go through nerves at various stages, whether it's before going out for a match or during a match. One, did you feel any nerves? And two, what makes you nervous? I'm trying to think of the way to put it. What are the feelings you have when you get nervous? Is it just like butterflies in the stomach, you don't want to talk to anybody before a match, or what do you take in?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Before matches I'm actually pretty relaxed, to be honest. I'm not one of those guys who doesn't talk to anybody or changes how I am. I am the same guy.

Yeah, I think everybody gets nervous in certain situations. I think that's normal. But I think I'm pretty okay in that regards.

Q. I want to remind you that Pete Sampras won five times the ATP Masters finals, and every time he lost one match. That can help your confidence. How do you see the situation in the group with Sinner that is going to replace Berrettini? That has been announced just a few minutes ago by Berrettini himself. What is your reaction to that?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, this is the first time I'm hearing about it. I just came off the court. I was in the locker room and showered and came here. This is the first time I hear about it.

What are the rules? Sinner cannot qualify for semis, right?

Q. No, he could win two matches. He can still qualify, depending...

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: But I think you need to have played all three to qualify. Is that the rule? Is that not the rule? I think. I don't know. He can? Okay. He can still qualify.

Look, I mean, I think if I beat Hurkacz, I'm in a very good position because I won in two sets. I lost in three.

Look, I mean, I'm ready to play on Thursday. I'm ready to play Hubi on Thursday, and I think that will be, you know, the deciding match for me. Yeah, I'm excited. I'm looking forward to it. I think it's all in my hands kind of.

Q. And about Berrettini? Of course very, very sorry, sad, things like that.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, it's sad. I mean, look, at the end of the day, he's home, playing in front of the Italian fans, playing one of the biggest tournaments in the world in Italy. I think for him the feeling that he's having is incredible.

Yeah, hopefully he'll be back here next year.