D. MEDVEDEV/A. Zverev
7-6, 6-4
THE MODERATOR: We'll start with questions.
Q. Sascha, could you evaluate that match. The first set was obviously crucial.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, at the end of the day I kind of gave that set away a little bit, if we're going to be honest. I was 4-1 up, had quite an easy volley where I kind of just misjudged the ball a little bit. I didn't see it correctly maybe. I thought the ball was closer to me than it was. I just kind of dunked it in the net.
Yeah, in the second set obviously we were holding serve, comfortable both in our serves. Maybe I was even more comfortable than him. Then, yeah, I think not winning the first point in the 5-4 game, that was crucial. It went his way.
Q. During the match we saw you very focused, almost throwing the racquet, also smiling, laughing. You seem to have lived so many emotions. Is that what you felt on the court?
ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I mean, in this kind of match, yeah, there are a lot of emotions. I mean, I tried to hit a tweener and hit my own ball. That's the reason I was smiling there (smiling).
Yeah, it was frustrating at times because obviously not winning the first set is very crucial. It's also very crucial in mathematics to go through because I feel like I'm playing well. Now it's a little bit also out of my hands again. If Alcaraz wins, then he's through.
It's frustrating because I think the tennis that I played maybe deserved more than losing in straight sets in a way. Also, again, if I don't qualify, then I don't have anybody to blame. It's kind of my fault.
Q. The both times you won this tournament, you lost your second round-robin match.
ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, I mean, I've never won a second round-robin match at this event and I won the tournament twice. Yeah, that obviously gives me hope. On Friday I'll be No. 1 Daniil Medvedev fan there is on this planet - for a change (smiling). We'll see how it goes.
As I said, it's a little bit out of my hands. Of course, if Daniil wins, he's playing very well, I think he does have a lot of chances to win. I have to be focused and be ready for 8:30 and be ready to beat Andrey.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports