Zverev says Tsitsipas didn’t play well and that the match was pathetic

Jaitock1991

Hall of Fame
Honesty prevails over the phony "my opponent was just too good" standard.

I agree 100 %, and it's terrible that we are constantly craving honesty from the players rather than the standard "fake gentleman" behavior, only to go crazy on them as soon they actually are being honest. However in this case, I feel like Zverev is not being honest, but rather just a really sore loser behaving like a spoiled baby.
 

zverev2018

Semi-Pro
No.. Zverev elaborated about Tsitisipas' 125mph serve to his BH saying that he returns all the time with ease in a smug disrespectful way. He is being honest and showing us all who he truly is.
He is by far the biggest jerk I've ever heard at a post match presser.
He lost more fans and gained hate like democrats have towards opposition.
What's pathetic is he's a brat (similar to the way Harrison was(or still is). Ryan was never a top10 player so he's fortuanate to not be in that situation. Mischa and his parents should have done a better job of teaching him manners.
Makes you rethink his fake congratulatory speech at the Citi Open the previous week.

 

a10best

Hall of Fame
Oh but he was speaking the plain truth here :p

Quite honestly, we are holding a 21 year old to very high standards. He will learn just like Fed has learnt to tone it down after several defeats to his fiercest rivals.

However, if the match was bad, it was bad. No two ways about it.
Was it so bad because Zverev started missing or choking? I've seen far worse matches. No excuses except that Zverev didn't adjust and lost.
Zverev was serving quite well and overpowering Tsitsipas and then it all changed for him. Pathetic was the way Zverev aggressiveness dropped. Tennis commentators and coach Gilbert noted that.
 

zverev2018

Semi-Pro
13 time grand slam champion
1 time grand slam quarterfinalist

Inb4 you post Rome 2017 pic.

So what? That's worse as his achievements & long career mean that more people watch the interview and look up to him, so he should be even more careful and be a better role model than Zverev who's still very young. In a way, maybe Zverev was like that in his interview after watching some of his heroes like Novak, McEnore, etc. behave like that. They were a bad influence on him.

Zverev is the victim here.
 

a10best

Hall of Fame
Nice. But I ain't gonna watch all of the post match interviews of ATG players Djokovic, Federer orNadal seeking arrogance. Let Zverev act like after he wins a few slams and he'll probably get a few. As of now he has not even reached semis of slam.
I'll still dislike him as I'm not a fan of his stye or mannerism even before this interview.
 

Azure

G.O.A.T.
Was it so bad because Zverev started missing or choking? I've seen far worse matches. No excuses except that Zverev didn't adjust and lost.
Zverev was serving quite well and overpowering Tsitsipas and then it all changed for him. Pathetic was the way Zverev aggressiveness dropped. Tennis commentators and coach Gilbert noted that.
Possibly he was vexed but I don't get the hatred for him for this reason. He is 21!!
 

a10best

Hall of Fame
Possibly he was vexed but I don't get the hatred for him for this reason. He is 21!!
Attitude, arrogance, complaining when losing, racket smashing, Watch more matches of him when it's tight or he's losing. Isner at IW, yesterday, slams matches he's losing. I have no hatred just dislike of his "current" attitude, and irritating tummy display on serves. Great serve an and strokes, no doubt.
Nadal's rituals and Novak's 10-15 ball bounces get to me too but at least I am not seeing someone's abs each time I serve.
 

Steve0904

Talk Tennis Guru
So what? That's worse as his achievements & long career mean that more people watch the interview and look up to him, so he should be even more careful and be a better role model than Zverev who's still very young. In a way, maybe Zverev was like that in his interview after watching some of his heroes like Novak, McEnore, etc. behave like that. They were a bad influence on him.

Zverev is the victim here.

Zverev is making himself the victim.
 

3lite

Professional
Yup. And then there’s this gem: (skip to 2:13 or so)

“Some players grow up and play like that” lol!

“I don’t understand how you can play a shot like that. I grew up working hard...”

Fed completely talking out of his a^% for most of this presser! Gives Novak virtually no credit for an extremely clutch comeback!


Lmao, Novak too his soul at the US Open.

Fed hasn't recovered since.
 

Steve0904

Talk Tennis Guru
Possibly he was vexed but I don't get the hatred for him for this reason. He is 21!!

I think the age excuse is getting pretty old tbh. 18-19 I get it, still a teenager, but there have been many great champions who weren't saying this at 21. Borg, Sampras, Edberg, and obviously this era's champions. Maybe Zverev will take longer to mature, but it's getting late IMO. If he's still saying this at 23-24 and still hasn't won at least one slam then the book is out on him.
 

Azure

G.O.A.T.
I think the age excuse is getting pretty old tbh. 18-19 I get it, still a teenager, but there have been many great champions who weren't saying this at 21. Borg, Sampras, Edberg, and obviously this era's champions. Maybe Zverev will take longer to mature, but it's getting late IMO. If he's still saying this at 23-24 and still hasn't won at least one slam then the book is out on him.
Possibly but we can be a little forgiving, no?
 

George Turner

Hall of Fame
At least Zed is honest when speaking in public. Tsit would prob know himself he didn't play great and he won a mediocre match against a below par Zed.

Would do we want from our tennis players, honesty or a bunch of PR robots
 

Steve0904

Talk Tennis Guru
At least Zed is honest when speaking in public. Tsit would prob know himself he didn't play great and he won a mediocre match against a below par Zed.

Would do we want from our tennis players, honesty or a bunch of PR robots

Tsitsipas might even agree that he didn't play well at all, but then that just makes Zverev look worse. Another thing that I don't think Z realized in his fit of temper.
 

Steve0904

Talk Tennis Guru
Possibly but we can be a little forgiving, no?

Why? We're not forgiving on Kyrgios and I think we have a pretty good handle on him at this point. He didn't change much between 21 and 23. Not many people do at that level. Maybe Hewitt or Agassi, but even they were late. We shouldn't assume Zverev is going to just to be forgiving.

Not only that, but I don't believe Zverev is ever going to take particularly well to losing to guys he's older than or that he thinks he's better than, and the problem for him is he thinks he's better than everyone, outside of maybe the Big 4. He wouldn't be talking like this if he lost to one of them I can guarantee you that. He definitely wouldn't say something (after losing) like "I don't even think he played that well."
 
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Jimbud

Semi-Pro
Stupid question: much talk about Z’s failure to challenge a call at the end. I know there is no coaching permitted on the ATP tour, but can a player look at his box for whether to challenge or no? And if not, is it still done and just not enforced?
 

TennisCanada1

Professional
And I have to stop you right there. I never said it was a great point. I said it was a good point, and there is an enormous difference between "great" and "good." Roger Federer is a great tennis player. Donald Young is a good player.

See what I mean?
you can nitpick on the wording all you'd like, and I'm happy to comply and agree that good is different than great, but it doesn't take away from how your argument as a whole is fundamentally incorrect.
 

Djokovic2011

Bionic Poster
In fairness if that's how he truly felt afterwards then I don't see why he should be berated so much for his comments. I mean aren't we always calling out young players these days for being too robotic and not honest enough? Seems to me like he's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't, besides I'm sure as he gets older he'll mature like most people do and become a little more humble. I see him as a work in progress both in his game and mentality.
 
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Deleted member 756486

Guest
Why? We're not forgiving on Kyrgios and I think we have a pretty good handle on him at this point. He didn't change much between 21 and 23. Not many people do at that level. Maybe Hewitt or Agassi, but even they were late. We shouldn't assume Zverev is going to just to be forgiving.

Not only that, but I don't believe Zverev is ever going to take particularly well to losing to guys he's older than or that he thinks he's better than, and the problem for him is he thinks he's better than everyone, outside of maybe the Big 4. He wouldn't be talking like this if he lost to one of them I can guarantee you that. He definitely wouldn't say something (after losing) like "I don't even think he played that well."
I really hope Fed beats Z then Z says something really outlandish and stupid.

Then the hate train will really get going on here. ;)
 

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
Rafa is not dominant at all...
2017dal was much much better than this one
Nadal didn't lose early at Wimbledon this year. He's also gone farther in Toronto than he did in Montreal 17. Very minor differences. But Federer this year lost in IW, Miami, Halle, and Wimbledon which he won last year.
 
Nadal didn't lose early at Wimbledon this year. He's also gone farther in Toronto than he did in Montreal 17. Very minor differences. But Federer this year lost in IW, Miami, Halle, and Wimbledon which he won last year.

Fed lost all the matches with either m.p. or more points or both or matches in hand.....
Rafa luckily got to SF bcz no big server was put in first week for him....
2017 nadal reached so many HC finals and had many deep runs.... Outplaying everyone on clay....
2018 is clearly a huge dip below it
 

Apun94

Hall of Fame
Wow. I've never really been on the Zverev hate train but I think this is the turning point. I have honestly never heard such an arrogant, smug post-match comment. Say what you want about Kyrgios and Tomic, not even they would trash someone who beat them like this. Truly a classless thing to say.
I honestly dont see any problem in what he said. Both played bad. He said that Tsitsipas played bad but he played even worse. That's just honesty for me. Refreshing even
 

Mainad

Bionic Poster
I honestly dont see any problem in what he said. Both played bad. He said that Tsitsipas played bad but he played even worse. That's just honesty for me. Refreshing even

You're supposed to give your opponent some credit for winning, not just blame your own performance and especially not your opponent's. He just came across as churlish.
 

Apun94

Hall of Fame
You're supposed to give your opponent some credit for winning, not just blame your own performance and especially not your opponent's. He just came across as churlish.
"Pathetic" may have been a strong word to use but other than that he was correct in his assessment. He did say his opponent played better than him even if both were pretty horrible (and they really were if you watch the match).
Everything is too PC man. I prefer this honest assessment even if there could be a better use of words the next time!
 

Mainad

Bionic Poster
"Pathetic" may have been a strong word to use but other than that he was correct in his assessment. He did say his opponent played better than him even if both were pretty horrible (and they really were if you watch the match).
Everything is too PC man. I prefer this honest assessment even if there could be a better use of words the next time!

Be honest by all means but be tactful and stylish with it. Zverev is still young and still has all the cockiness and brashness of youth. As he gets older, hopefully he will mature in his way of dealing with these things.
 

DRII

G.O.A.T.
Let's not forget these ones:

Federer on Nadal:

"He's quite one-dimensional with his game," Federer said of Nadal’s game. "I thought I actually saw the way I should play against him. The more I play him, the better it is for me." (2006)

"The French Open is always going to be hard as long as Rafa Nadal is around," says the 32-year-old Swiss. "But on the other surfaces, if I am playing well, it's more in my racquet than in anybody else's racquet."
(2013)

Federer on Djokovic:

"I played four times against him. Never lost. [...] But, yeah, I mean, like himself, he says nothing outrageous in his game. Always pretty predictable, which is a good thing." (2007)

Asked about the quite remarkable forehand winner Djokovic hit to save match point, Federer reckoned the Serb did not look at that point like someone "who believes much anymore in winning. To lose against someone like that, it's very disappointing, because you feel like he was mentally out of it already. Just gets the lucky shot at the end, and off you go." (2011)

BONUS - Federer on himself:

"My mental toughness has always been overshadowed by my virtuosity, my shot-making, my technique, my grace." (2017)
+ effing 1!

but many Federer fanatics are AZ's biggest detractors (because arrogance, LOL)

absolutely ridiculous!
 

Nolkobolko

Semi-Pro
What Zverev said:

I don't think he played that well. I think the match was absolutely pathetic on all levels. I'm very honest with you guys (press). Today was an absolute pathetic match I don't even think he played well

What Zverev should have said:

To be honest, I don’t think this match had the quality we were both looking for, full credit to Stefanos, he came out clutch in the big moments and deserved the win today.


Learn some humility:rolleyes:
 

duaneeo

Legend
LOL at uppity tennis fans telling players how to respond. Take your noses out of the air.

None of the big 3 would say any such thing ever.

What Federer said about Murray after 2008 Dubai was way worse. Zverev only commented on Tsitsipas' level of play for one match. Roger trashed Andy's overall game and progress, and then ended with the snide "who knows" comment:

Murray knocked Federer out of the Dubai Championships in yesterday's opening round, but Federer today said he was unimpressed by Murray's lack of attacking intent, and does not believe that the British No1 has developed since they first crossed paths in the final of the 2005 Thailand Open.

"I don't think he has changed his game a whole lot since the first time I played him and I really thought he would have done," said Federer. "He is going to have to grind it very hard in the next few years if he is going to play this way. He stands way behind the court. You have to do a lot of running and he tends to wait for the mistakes of his opponent.

"I gave him the mistakes but overall, in a 15-year career, you want to look to win a point more often, rather than wait for the other guy to miss. Who knows, he might surprise us all."
 

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
LOL at uppity tennis fans telling players how to respond. Take your noses out of the air.



What Federer said about Murray after 2008 Dubai was way worse. Zverev only commented on Tsitsipas' level of play for one match. Roger trashed Andy's overall game and progress, and then ended with the snide "who knows" comment:

Murray knocked Federer out of the Dubai Championships in yesterday's opening round, but Federer today said he was unimpressed by Murray's lack of attacking intent, and does not believe that the British No1 has developed since they first crossed paths in the final of the 2005 Thailand Open.

"I don't think he has changed his game a whole lot since the first time I played him and I really thought he would have done," said Federer. "He is going to have to grind it very hard in the next few years if he is going to play this way. He stands way behind the court. You have to do a lot of running and he tends to wait for the mistakes of his opponent.

"I gave him the mistakes but overall, in a 15-year career, you want to look to win a point more often, rather than wait for the other guy to miss. Who knows, he might surprise us all."
Well he isn't insulting Murray, he's not like "Andy is pathetic, I just had an off day to lose to this scrub"
 

a10best

Hall of Fame
Actually, Zverev and Kyrios are friends (good friends??). So they have the same arrogant attitude. At least Kyrios will give you entertainment for 1-2 sets.
 
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Deleted member 756486

Guest
LOL at uppity tennis fans telling players how to respond. Take your noses out of the air.



What Federer said about Murray after 2008 Dubai was way worse. Zverev only commented on Tsitsipas' level of play for one match. Roger trashed Andy's overall game and progress, and then ended with the snide "who knows" comment:

Murray knocked Federer out of the Dubai Championships in yesterday's opening round, but Federer today said he was unimpressed by Murray's lack of attacking intent, and does not believe that the British No1 has developed since they first crossed paths in the final of the 2005 Thailand Open.

"I don't think he has changed his game a whole lot since the first time I played him and I really thought he would have done," said Federer. "He is going to have to grind it very hard in the next few years if he is going to play this way. He stands way behind the court. You have to do a lot of running and he tends to wait for the mistakes of his opponent.

"I gave him the mistakes but overall, in a 15-year career, you want to look to win a point more often, rather than wait for the other guy to miss. Who knows, he might surprise us all."
Didn’t call Murray pathetic at least.
 
D

Deleted member 756486

Guest
My bad. I thought Zverev called the match pathetic. I didn't know he called Tsitsipas pathetic. Sign me up for the Zverev hate club.
“I don’t think he played that well. The match was absolutely pathetic”

So if he didn’t play well and still beat you what does that say about you? :)
 

duaneeo

Legend
“I don’t think he played that well. The match was absolutely pathetic”

So if he didn’t play well and still beat you what does that say about you? :)

Zverev is talking about the level of play of that particular match. He knows neither he nor Tsitsipas played anywhere near their best.
 

FedGR

Professional
Kinda late to the hate train but it would just convey the same message with a not discrediting focus to Tsitsipas simply by saying something along the lines " I didn't play my best game, he played better and deserved to win". Very simple but yeah cockiness at this age is not a good sign. Still young though, time to learn so let's not crucify him yet.

On the other hand, it is good to see that Stefanos was able to pull through without serving well at all. Rivalry for many years to come.
 

BeatlesFan

Bionic Poster
Actually, Zverev and Kyrios are friends (good friends??). So they have the same arrogant attitude. .

This sentiment has been posted before. Nick is NOT arrogant. He actually has self-esteem issues and is one the least conceited or arrogant pros I've seen or met. Pat Rafter would be the best example of that-- just totally nice to all fans.

I've watched Nick for 4 years at IW practicing, at the Oracle Players event and in matches. Yes, he tanks, he doesn't give a damn against lesser players, he says unforgivable things (like to Stanimal). But he is not arrogant in the slightest. I've never seen Nick treat the fans and especially kids, as anything but self-effacing and polite. There's nothing "conceited" about him in any way.

On the other hand, Zverev drips with condescension towards almost everyone, I have personally seen it at IW. He and Raonic are without question the most arrogant and haughty of all the current crop of players. Jack Sock is a tool too.

The top guys are all nice, possibly because of PR reasons. Del Po is just pure gold to all.
 

Smurph

Rookie
At least Zed is honest when speaking in public. Tsit would prob know himself he didn't play great and he won a mediocre match against a below par Zed.

Would do we want from our tennis players, honesty or a bunch of PR robots
I appreciate the honesty too. He could have said it with a more diplomatic tone in his voice though.

The robot interviews are a waste of time.
Zverev did says that he played like crap too.
 

FHtennisman

Professional
Yes I agree. Although at the time it was true that Rafa was a one dimensional player but he shouldn't have said it I guess. But it seems like he was actually trying to discuss tennis there rather than taking a dig at Rafa.
Fed actually said at Miami04 or 05 that he is trying to win as much as he can before Rafa matures and wins everything. I think the respect was always there.

That was Wimby 07.
 

a10best

Hall of Fame
This sentiment has been posted before. Nick is NOT arrogant. He actually has self-esteem issues and is one the least conceited or arrogant pros I've seen or met. Pat Rafter would be the best example of that-- just totally nice to all fans.

I've watched Nick for 4 years at IW practicing, at the Oracle Players event and in matches. Yes, he tanks, he doesn't give a damn against lesser players, he says unforgivable things (like to Stanimal). But he is not arrogant in the slightest. I've never seen Nick treat the fans and especially kids, as anything but self-effacing and polite. There's nothing "conceited" about him in any way.

On the other hand, Zverev drips with condescension towards almost everyone, I have personally seen it at IW. He and Raonic are without question the most arrogant and haughty of all the current crop of players. Jack Sock is a tool too.

The top guys are all nice, possibly because of PR reasons. Del Po is just pure gold to all.
I am a fan of Nick and Rafter. I switched to the DR98 and love it. I saw Pat play live during his peak and yes, he's a great guy who should've had a Wimbledon crown. Back to Nick. We've seen Nick miss a return or a shot and shake his head as in, "I can turn it on whenever I want and beat this mug". I know he can too. He's done this in a couple of matches I've seen. The last time was at Houston against Fratangelo this summer. Against the big players, I've never seen Nick show nothing but respect, outside of his strange timing for a trick shot.
-- Yeah, sometimes, I need a chance to edit or remove a comment.
 

ak24alive

Legend
That was Wimby 07.
Yeah sorry to give wrong info. I was confused I guess because he said something similar after Miami 2005.
But I looked into it and it seems like this was Wimby 08.
Federer was on course for a record sixth straight Wimbledon title in 2008 but he was beaten by Nadal in five sets in what is widely regarded to be the greatest Wimbledon final ever.

During a formal interview after the match, this is what Federer said about Nadal: “He’s a fantastic player and he’s going to be around for a longer time so I’m happy with everyone I get before he takes them all”.
 
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