NITTO ATP FINALS

November 21, 2021

Alexander Zverev

Pala Alpitour, Torino

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/D. Medvedev

6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference with the 2021 Nitto ATP Finals champion, Alexander Zverev.

Questions, please.

Q. You must be incredibly proud of yourself on what you've achieved this week. Can you put it into words, your emotions, how you're feeling? Obviously it's exciting.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, they couldn't be much better, to be honest. I'm happy, obviously happy with how the season went. I'm happy with the finish of the season. It was obviously a great year. To capture the title here has been incredible.

Give me the trophy (smiling).

Q. What is the outlook for the next season for you? What do you think will be the topic that will dominate the agenda of tennis in 2022?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: In what way the topics? What do you mean?

Q. What are going to be the main issues that are going to be dominating the agenda, the headlines, surrounding global tennis next year?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Issues? Why should there be issues?

Q. Topics such as relationship between players and organizations, COVID, the emerging big three, things like that.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, I don't know. I hope everything will go back to normal at some point. I hope all of those discussions about obviously the COVID rules, the COVID prize money, all that, will come to an end and everything will go back to normal. I think everyone is looking forward to that.

But, again, I'm not a magician. I cannot see the future. I don't really know what will happen. I hope everything will go back to normal at some point.

Q. You didn't win once; you won twice, beating No. 1 and No. 2. You cannot finish better. Two Masters 1000. Not too bad. Are you surprised the way you won today just with the one break at the beginning of the first set, another one at the beginning of the second, then you never gave him any chance, even a breakpoint? Did you expect something like that or not?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, look, you go into the match knowing that you're playing one of the two best players in the world. I knew that I had to play my best tennis to beat him. I did that today. I think I played a very good match. I'm happy with my level. I'm happy with the performance I had.

Of course, today, I mean, was a good match from my side.

Q. After this season so good for you, do you think that you are closer than ever to win a Grand Slam?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, I think so, yeah. I mean, why not, right (smiling)?

Q. You were talking about your father on the court. I'm wondering where he is and if he's okay. Can you fill us in or is that a private matter?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, he's going to be okay hopefully. Everything else, I mean, he asked me not to talk about it so I'm not going to.

Q. You had some pretty impressive offense, aggressive tactics today, backhand, swinging volley. How pleased are you to have integrated these types of shots in your game, the way you pulled them off today?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: It was definitely a game plan, right? I think against him, if you're letting him in too many rallies, it is difficult because he's one of the best baseliners in the world. I think against him you need to take control of the points. I did that today. That's why it worked out very well for me.

Q. Obviously you don't want to look far ahead. If you don't mind, you've proven that you can win the biggest events against the biggest players. What do you think is the next step for you?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, I kind of have succeeded on every single level, and there's one thing missing. I hope I can do that next year.