INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 8, 2026

Alexander Zverev

Mixed Zone

A. ZVEREV/D. Altmaier

7-5, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. How has the transition been from Madrid? Happy to get a day match?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: No, the transition is fine. I'm used to it. I've been doing it for 10 years. It's okay.

I think my body generally after the last couple of weeks I played a lot of tennis, just kind of relaxed a little bit and I got a little bit sick. That was difficult to deal with I think today and the last couple of nights. I'm hoping it will be better.

Q. Why do you have sunglasses?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Not sunglasses. Not sunglasses. It's glasses to relax your eyes. It's for blue light. It's usually better if you wear them. I can take them off if you want (smiling).

Q. Can I ask a non-match question?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah.

Q. This is more from earlier in your career. The difference from playing in smaller courts to center courts, the space, did you have to adjust? Was that an adjustment or you get used to it?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I think it definitely helps on clay to be on the bigger courts, especially for me. I do return quite far back. I think on hard courts, it does not matter too much because I am close to the line. I think generally people are close to the line.

On the practice courts sometimes I struggle to play points because I don't have enough space to return I feel like. I can't imagine playing matches there.

Yeah, I've been fortunate enough and lucky enough to be able to play on bigger courts throughout my career. Hope I can continue doing that the next 10 years.

Q. Is Chatrier kind of a dream in that regard?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: That's too much. Yeah, whether that space is there or not, it doesn't really matter.

Here in Rome, and I think a place like Madrid, center court does feel very, very different because, again, you can go as far back as you want, where with the other courts you can't do that.

The return position, I think it's the most important thing that changes.

Q. In terms of speed, what is the difference? You won twice Madrid. You won twice Rome. What do you like the best?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Zero times French Open yet (smiling).

No, I like both, for sure.

Q. You are among the guys who signed with the players the letter. The boycott idea, do you think it's a way to get what you want?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I don't know. We haven't spoken about boycotting. I think it's a general thing. If you see the revenue share, you see other sports, it's very, very close to 50/50, a lot of other sports, where we are at 15% for both women and men. That's something that I think is just frustrating to us players.

It's not the top guys. Jannik makes good money. Carlos makes good money. I make good money. It's also I think right now probably 150 players can live from tennis on the male side and probably even less on the women's side.

If we get a fair share and we get closer to other sports, I think many, many more players can make a living from tennis.

That's the main goal for us. That's the main goal for us to push tennis forward, to make it more profitable for many more players, not only the top hundred players, let's say.

Yeah, I think that is an important subject. I think 15% is just not fair to us players. Also, for example, last year's final, that goes for six hours, myself with Carlos goes for five-and-a-half hours, I think those kind of matches are worth more than 15%.

Q. Outside the win, what is funny for you in tennis?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Outside of a win?

Q. Yes.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: What is funny to me in tennis?

Q. Yes, outside of just a win.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, I like the sport in general.

Q. Something is funny for you in the tennis now?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Funny?

Q. Or interesting?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Tennis in general is an interesting sport. I didn't expect that question so I'll have to think about it. I'll answer you in two days' time.