AUSTRALIAN OPEN

February 14, 2021

Alexander Zverev

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/D. Lajovic

6-4, 7-6, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Another quarterfinal in a Grand Slam. Were you pleased with your performance today?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah. You know, I'm in the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam, so I've gotta to be doing something well.

You know, I'm looking forward to what's ahead, the toughest matches I think are still ahead of me, with Novak and Raonic looking for a spot in the quarterfinals against me.

So I'm definitely looking forward to what's ahead.

Q. Since Novak won the first set, I'd like to just ask you, if it is Novak in the next round, how would you describe your experiences in facing him and what are your thoughts about facing him now?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, you've got to play your best tennis, especially here. This is his favorite court, this is his favorite tournament. To be able to have a chance against him, you have to be playing extremely well. You have to be playing aggressive tennis, I think, being the one that dominates.

You know, I'm looking forward to the challenge. I think it's one of the toughest challenges in our sport to be playing Novak at this Grand Slam in later rounds.

Q. What do you remember most of your matches with him to date?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Well, I mean, I had two of my biggest wins against him in the Rome final and London, but the other matches were extremely difficult. I mean, we played twice in the last few months, in London once and at the ATP Cup, which was an extremely close match, which could have gone both ways. I think he would say the same thing.

But the other side, it's always a very physical match, always involves a lot of movement, I think. In a way you have to move extremely well against him.

As I said, it's one of the most difficult challenges in sports to be playing him here.