THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 8, 2023

Alexander Zverev

Press Conference

M. BERRETTINI/A. Zverev

6-3, 7-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Just your thoughts after the match, please.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: My thoughts?

THE MODERATOR: Your initial thoughts after the match.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I don't really have any.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Amazing game to watch. You both played really, really well. I just wondered how much the rain break had an impact on the game? Looked like before you both thought it was too dark. Looked too dark to play.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, it was.

Q. And then perhaps the court was slippery when you came back?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Well, I think both of us played much better after the break, because it was ridiculously dark before the rain delay. We both were saying that to the umpire, but their plan wasn't to play us till 8:30. I don't know how they wanted to play us more than one hour still.

Yeah, in the beginning it was a little bit slippery. Then I think it got better. In general I think, apart from my side maybe, the break that I got in the first set, I think that was really bad.

Apart from that, I think it was a great match.

Q. The break was bad from your play or because of the light, or...

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: No, I think from my end. It wasn't great. I think the break that I got in the first set was, yeah, it was kind of unforced in a way.

Other than that, I think it was a very, very decent match. I lost in three very tight sets. I just looked at the stats. I think I lost only three points, lost three more points than him in the whole match.

That just shows that it could have gone both ways, but today in important moments he played better.

Q. Did you expect that Matteo Berrettini was at this level of fitness?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yes.

Q. What did you tell him at the end of the match?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yes, I expected it, and I told him that he can win the tournament if he plays like this. In my opinion.

I mean, of course there is other players that are great. He's playing Alcaraz next. I think he's a great player as well. But if he plays like this, to be honest, he has chances against anybody.