AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 18, 2026

Alexander Zverev

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/G. Diallo

6-7, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Congrats, Sascha. How did you turn it around after the first set, and how well was Gab playing at the beginning?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: By winning the next three (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: And how well was Gab playing?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, he's a great player. Very young, very talented, very powerful. In the beginning, I was not playing good. You know, I was giving him too many chances, I was too defensive. But the normal stuff that I do in the first round of a Grand Slam sometimes.

Happy with the way I played the second, third, and fourth, because I thought that was quite high level for me.

Yeah, happy to get the win.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You had a couple of matches at United Cup and then I think you pulled out of Kooyong last week. Were you happy with your preparation coming in and how are you feeling physically?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I would have liked to play more matches at the United Cup, for sure. We lost to Poland, who eventually won. Yeah, that was it for us.

Yeah, I mean, the preparation actually in practice was quite good. I had good practice sessions. I had a lot of them and a lot of time here in Melbourne. Of course, I would have loved to play a few more matches, but it is how it is. We won the tournament two years ago. This time we lost in group stages. It's just how it goes sometimes.

Q. You mentioned in your on-court interview you weren't very happy with the draw, given that Gab is a quality player. On the flipside, is it a blessing in disguise with that intensity to help you go through the tournament, having played such a quality player in the first round? Would that help you given the lack of matches that you had this season?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, afterwards it's easy to say yes, because I won. But, for example, Wimbledon last year, I lost to a similar player in the first round.

Yeah, after you won and after you're through that match, yeah, it's a positive for sure, because you have been tested and you know where you are and you know where your level is at, especially in difficult moments.

But before, you know, when the draw comes out and you haven't played, and I'm not sitting here as the winner, it's not, yeah, it's not something is nice or you look forward to. At the end, of course, I was happy with how I took on the challenge and especially how I played the last three sets.