AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2025

Alex Zverev

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/J. Fearnley

6-3, 6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Well done, Sascha. How do you rate today's performance compared to the first two rounds?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Different, I would say. Much more difficult conditions to play.

I feel like in the first few matches were kind of perfect conditions, no wind at all. The second match was basically indoors.

Obviously very, very different. I think my opponent did a great job of maximizing today. Was very aggressive, was returning quite well, and yeah, I'm happy with a straight-set win.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Outside of the tournament, I'm from Argentina and I want to ask you for your upcoming visit to Argentina and also Rio de Janeiro. Going to be your first time. Of course, you've been in both countries, playing exhibition with Roger, but ATP level, first time. What do you remember about your time with Roger five years ago?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I played in Argentina with Roger. I didn't play in Brazil.

I had two very different visits to Argentina. It was unbelievable. I mean, obviously the welcome that we had, or Roger had, you know, I was tagging along (smiling), but it was incredible to see. The fans were so passionate, you know, about seeing him. It was so much fun to be there.

In Brazil I played Davis Cup against Brazil. So a very different visit. I hope it's going to be different this year. I hope I will have, you know, many fans in both of those places.

I'm looking forward to playing those tournaments for the first time.

Q. What are the reasons you decided this year -- I mean, your whole career you decided to play indoors in Europe, and now you're going to play in South America, clay, hot weather?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, actually last year I didn't play any of the indoor tournaments, because I don't like the conditions in Rotterdam. I always played bad there. I always struggled there.

Then you don't have many options. So last year I took one month off after Australia and played in Mexico. Then I lost all my form. Basically I had two offseasons.

I didn't want to do this this year. I wanted to play some tournaments, and I thought that was the perfect, you know, just to try also something different. I have never been there. I wanted to go there. I wanted to see how it is.

Yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to visiting those countries.