NITTO ATP FINALS

November 18, 2021

Alexander Zverev

Pala Alpitour, Torino

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/H. Hurkacz

6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. What do you make of your performance overall today?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I think it was a very different match than against Medvedev, because there was not as much rhythm. I think Hubi was going for his shots a lot more and the points were shorter.

But in the end of the day, I won in straight sets, I'm through, and I'm happy about that.

Q. You're facing Novak next. You have played him a lot, big matches on hard courts this season. What are your thoughts headed into that matchup?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, I mean, we played basically every single big event this year on hard court against each other, right? We played at the Australian Open, we played at the Olympics, and we played at the US Open, so it's only right that we play each other here as well.

I'm looking forward to it. I think it's always interesting. It's always close when we play each other, so I'm looking forward to hopefully another tough one.

Q. 62 or 63 minutes today. When you look at the scoreline, relatively straightforward. How well do you actually think you played? And then when you look ahead to playing Djokovic, how much better do you have to play?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I think you cannot compare today to Novak's match. I think there is going to be a lot more long rallies in Novak's match. I think we are going to run a lot more. I think we are going to suffer, in a way, a lot more, as well.

But, yeah, I mean, I did what I could today, and I won the way I should have won. I'm happy about that. That's the most important right now.

Q. I'd like to know if you felt that the crowd was a little bit in favor of Hurkacz, because if Hurkacz would have beaten you, then Sinner had the chance to go to the semifinals, or if you didn't realize that at all? And second, if you had any time to see a little bit of Torino, if you had some good food in Italy? What is your first experience being at the ATP Finals in Italy, which has been the first year? For sure there are some weaknesses to improve, but compared to London, are you happy or not?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, I felt like the crowd was against me when I played against Berrettini, yes, but today I didn't feel it so much, to be honest. I love Italy a lot, and I think the Italian fans can relate to me, as well, very well. So, I mean, I always enjoy my time in Italy.

Yeah, I mean, compared to London, it's very difficult to compare because it's very different. I think London is one of the biggest cities in the world in Europe, and obviously it's just a lot bigger, you know what I mean? Where here, you know, I love the fans, I love the electricity that we have.

I think the organization is doing everything they can to do the best job that they can. I think our locker rooms are a lot nicer here than they were in London. You know, the food is great. Obviously we are in Italy, so that is one part that no other country in the world can compare themselves to.

So I think both events are awesome. What makes London so special is obviously also the O2 Arena itself, because the O2 Arena is a historic arena. It's just so massive. It's so big.

But here I think what makes it special is the Italian fans, because the Italian fans are just louder. They are more electric. They're more into sports I think than the fans there were.

Q. When you play Novak, I mean, this will be the fifth meeting this year and you have split the last two. If you look back at the last two, do they have any bearing coming into this? They were both on hard court.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: The fifth meeting is here?

Q. ATP Cup...

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Oh, yeah, I forgot about that.

I think every single match that we played was very close. Every single match that we played we both needed to be at our best. One or two points decided the matches.

I expect no different here, as well.