The world number 3 and outgoing champion Alexander Zverev, swept away 6-3, 6-1 by the young phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz in the final in Madrid on Sunday, attacked the programming of the Spanish tournament, which he considers too late.
Friday like Saturday, Zverev was scheduled in the last match on the Central Madrid, so that he completed his quarter-final past midnight, and his semi-final beyond one o'clock in the morning.
The final kicked off at 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
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“
The job of the ATP has been an absolute disgrace this week,
lamented the German Olympic champion.
Two days ago I went to bed at 4 or 4:30 in the morning.
Yesterday at 5:20 a.m.
"
I'm a little angry,
" he continued.
I had no chance of being myself today (Sunday), no chance of playing at my level.
»
“It would have been a better match”
Completely helpless for an hour against the Spanish wonderkid on Sunday, Zverev believes his short nights have had an impact on his physical condition.
“
When you go to bed one night at 4 a.m., then the next night at 5 a.m., just waking up is difficult (…) You are dead.
You are not able to perform physical activity at the highest level
,” he regretted.
“
And to play Carlos Alcaraz in the final of a Masters 1000, who I think is the best player in the world right now, to compete with him, you have to be at your best.
You even have to be above
it,” added the 25-year-old German.
"
Today, even fresh, I probably wouldn't have beaten Carlos, but it would have been a better game
," he said.
“
I am human.
I am not a robot.
I can't play at my level when it happens every night
,” Zverev insisted.
A hardly new example for the German, who had played the latest match in history at the start of the year in Acapulco (Mexico).
“
It's not the first time this has happened.
In Acapulco, I played until 5 a.m. and stayed up until 8:30 a.m., he recalled.
It happens every week, and to be honest, I'm a little sick of it.
»
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