In the third round of Wimbledon, Alexander Zverev suffered a bitter five-set defeat. At the 6:7 (2), 6:4, 7:5, 3:6, 0:6 against the Latvian Ernests Gulbis, the third in the world ranking ran out of breath – due to the effects of a gastrointestinal virus. Now he wants to find distance in his adopted home Monte Carlo.
Question: “Alexander Zverev, you already told me on Friday that you were not feeling well because of a gastrointestinal virus. Was that another reason why you ran out of strength in the fifth movement today?”
Alexander Zverev: “Because of the complaints I had not eaten for 24 hours. That probably had something to do with it. I have already proved in Paris and in other matches that I usually don’t get tired in five-set matches either. That’s how it was today. I felt like someone pulled the plug on me in the middle of the fourth set. After that, there was no going back for me.”
Question: So you’ve reached your physical limits today because of your condition?”
Alexander Zverev: “Yes, I think so. Ernests also played well, there is no doubt about that. His victories in the qualification and the main field have given him self-confidence. He has now won six matches in a row. I didn’t think I was playing that badly. But I just got very tired. Something like this happens, it’s sport.”
Question: “At the French Open you were injured in the lost quarter-final against Dominic Thiem, now you were weakened by a virus. Does defeat feel different from losing under normal circumstances?”
Alexander Zverev: “In Paris it hurt because I thought I was one of the two best players in the world throughout the clay court season – together with Rafael Nadal. And I also had the feeling that I get better and better with every match. Then all of a sudden the injury came. But I’ll probably play Paris 15 more times and Wimbledon 15 more times. I’m not worried either, because I’ve shown that I can play over five sets. “I think it’s just a matter of time before my Grand Slam record gets better.”
Question: “How will you spend the next few days?”
Alexander Zverev: “I’ll be on a boat in Monte Carlo. No tennis for a few days. “Tomorrow and the day after, I’ll be by the water.”
Question: “How are you doing in the first half of the season?”
Alexander Zverev: “I am number three in the world – and also in the race. I won another Masters and played the finals in two other Masters finals. I also reached my first quarter-final at a Grand Slam. “The year so far has been all right, but there’s more to come.”