INTERNAZIONALI BNL D'ITALIA

May 12, 2026

Alexander Zverev

Mixed Zone

L. DARDERI/A. Zverev

1-6, 7-6, 6-0

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You spoke before the tournament about your sickness you had after Madrid. Does it have to do with it or if it was just how the game went?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, I did get tired. Whether it's a sickness or I just played a lot of tennis... That's one of the reasons.

Yeah, I think I should have won the match in two sets. That's just the story from there. Of course, the third set went for him. He played amazing tennis. I should have won the match in two sets.

Q. Did the wind affect the match?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: It was difficult to play.

I mean, to be honest, the court, I think this is the worst court I've ever played on. Juniors, professional, futures, practice, I never played on a court where the court quality is that bad.

I have match point and the ball jumps over my head. I have break point, the ball rolls. Like yeah...

Yeah, the wind was tough. Overall, again, I just think I should have won the match in two sets. After that, yeah, he played fantastic.

Q. What's the condition of the clay in general? You did the warm-up in the morning.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, you saw it, no? The ball rolls a couple of times. It's difficult.

Q. Fans fair?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah. I have no problem with the Italian fans. I enjoyed them. I think they're energetic. They're passionate about their own players, which is completely fine. They were fair.

Yeah, I have no problem with them.

Q. What do you need to do now? Mainly rest before Paris?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, maybe this is a bit of a blessing in a bad moment for me. I can rest and recharge and be 100% ready for the French Open. I can take a couple of days off. I have almost two weeks now till my next match, so yeah. I hope I can use that time.

Q. What kind of belief are you going to take to Paris? Nobody can beat Jannik without Carlos.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, that's been the case. I do have to believe that I'm capable of beating him. I do have to believe it, otherwise we can just give him the trophy without playing the tournament.