Alexander Zverev’s less than complimentary verdict on the Miami Open venue
There has been plenty of debate over the venue being used for the Miami Open in recent years and now Alexander Zverev has offered up a less-than-flattering verdict on the venue.
In the absence of world No 1 Novak Djokovic, Zverev is the No 4 seed in Miami and he marched into the fourth round of the tournament with a convincing 7-6(4) 6-3 win over Christopher Eubanks.
“It was a difficult match,” Zverev said. “I thought he was in control of it throughout the first set.
“He came out swinging and didn’t give me chances to be aggressive. I tried to mix it up from the baseline.
“I was surprised how well he was playing from the baseline, not giving me many unforced errors. He makes a lot but usually misses a lot but today he wasn’t missing, especially through some stages of the first set.”
In a more detailed interview with the Tennis Channel, Zverev gave his verdict on the unconventional Hard Rock Stadium site being used for the Miami Open, with the tennis court positioned inside the vast stadium.
The outside courts are temporary structures, with Zverev among those who gave a strong hint that he preferred playing at the Key Biscayne venue that hosted this event up to 2018.
“I loved playing at Key Biscayne, I loved being there,” he said. “I had some good success and was close to winning a title there.
“Here, I am still trying to find my rhythm because there is extreme difference from the way Centre Court plays compared to the other courts simply because we play inside a massive stadium and it is kind of covered.
“The surface is also a bit different to outside (courts), where we are kind of playing on a parking lot. That is the vibe.
“So, I hope I can make a deep run here. I feel like I’m playing well and I hope I can have a good tournament.”
READ MORE: Casper Ruud calls Miami Open organisers cheap in player service rant
Zverev’s less-than-flattering take on the Miami Open set-up backs up comments from Casper Ruud, who didn’t hold back in his verdict on the Miami Open set-up.
The game’s top players were treated to first class facilities at the Indian Wells Masters earlier this month, with the contrast to what they have found in Miami highlighted by world No 8 Ruud.
“There’s been no towels, no cold water, and just a plastic chair to change. This is a joke,” said Ruud in on-court comments to the chair umpire.
“And you know why it is? because the tournament is too cheap to put up something good for the players.
“The players come here every year to play, to put on a show in front of tens of thousands of people and then they treat us like this.
“Go to the trailer for five minutes in a room with nothing and just a plastic chair to change.
“Maybe they can put some towels, maybe some cold water for the players’ comfort. And it’s not your fault. I’m just saying how bad it is.
“No, I know you didn’t know but I’m telling you now. And you have to take it on today to whoever is in charge, Andrea, Massimo, whoever. Because every time the players complain, nothing happens.”
Miami Open Tournament Director James Blake may have something to say about the criticism of the event he is overseeing as it is clear some of the biggest names in the game are unconvinced the more from Key Biscayne has been successful.
