Alexander Zverev rages at Olympics schedule and labels it a ‘disgrace’ as his title defence ends
Alexander Zverev expressed his fury at the scheduling of the tennis event at the 2024 Paris Olympics as he branded it a “disgrace” before his title defence ended in defeat.
The world No 4 also revealed he “felt horrible on the court” during his quarter-final loss to Lorenzo Musetti and admitted it was “upsetting” he did not feel his best throughout the week.
Zverev was beaten 7-5, 7-5 by world No 16 Musetti in the last eight of the Olympics on Court Suzanne-Lenglen at Stade Roland Garros as his unbeaten record at the Games ended.
At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Zverev downed Karen Khachanov in the gold medal match after overcoming Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.
In Paris, Zverev was trying to become just the second man to defend the Olympic title after Andy Murray, who triumphed at the 2012 and 2016 Games.
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The German won 7-5, 6-3 against Alexei Popyrin in the third round in Paris on Wednesday evening and was back on court less than 18 hours later for his quarter-final clash with Musetti on Thursday afternoon.
Following his victory over Popyrin, Zverev lambasted the fact his match with Musetti had been scheduled as the second contest on Court Suzanne-Lenglen on Thursday.
“I’m so p***ed off, I can’t even say it,” Zverev told Bild. “The scheduling is a disgrace.”
After his exit on Thursday, Zverev explained he had not felt good physically during the whole tournament.
“I didn’t feel good the whole week and the second round I felt horrible on the court after a set. Today I felt horrible by the end of the first set,” said the 27-year-old.
“It’s upsetting. It’s not how I physically want to be. I always took big pride in the fact that I thought I was one of the strongest physical players out there.
“It definitely was not the case this week and I have to see. I’m gonna go back home and do some blood tests and see if everything is okay. And if everything is okay, then take some rest and hopefully get back in good shape.”
Zverev conceded, though, that Musetti — who has been in outstanding form since the grass-court season — had deserved to win.
“Lorenzo was much better than me today, in all aspects of the game,” he added.
“It is upsetting when you know the Olympic Games is once every four years and that you’re not 100 percent.”
Musetti will face Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals, with Carlos Alcaraz awaiting the winner in the gold medal match.
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