Alexander Zverev: Olympics is about prestige, not points or money

Alexander Zverev won a dramatic match against Hugo Gaston in the Hamburg Open. Zverev talked about that and the Paris Olympics after the match to the accredited press. Zverev won 4-6, 6-2, 7-5.

The Paris Olympics are just around the corner, but for all the players participating, there are no ranking points on the line, which is why some of them have opted out of the tournament to focus on the upcoming hardcourt season, while they can earn some points during that period as well. 

Despite being among the top four US-ranked players, Ben Shelton, Sebastian Korda, and Frances Tiafoe are some of the players who made that decision. 

Olympics not best friends with ATP

Alexander Zverev makes it very clear that the best players are always competing at the Olympics, as the tournament is about prestige and not money or points.

“The ITF or the Olympics are not best friends with the ATP, that’s not a secret. Everybody continues their own tour. Yes, the Olympics is one of the, if not the, most important events we have in sports,” Zverev said to the press after the match.

“So, the best players in the world are always going to play the Olympics over anything else, over points and over prize money. All the top players went to Wimbledon a few years back, despite having no points on the line.”

“It’s about prestige, it’s not about points or money. It’s about winning these kinds of titles and having medals for your country. That’s what it’s about. I would never choose to play a 500 event over the Olympics. There are no thoughts on that, and I think Washington is going to be quite an interesting 500 event, I would say.”

Bad decision by the umpire

At a crucial moment in the first set, the ball bounced twice, but the umpire decided to give the point to Hugo Gaston. Something Zverev and the German crowd were very unhappy with. 

He makes it clear that he was disappointed by the decision but says that these things can happen as the umpire is a human being, which is why tennis should use video review.

“We all saw what happened. It was a clear double bounce. It was on a very important point and today it did cost me the set. That’s what happened. Of course, it was a very disappointing moment and decision, and of course a bad decision at the end of the day from the umpire.”

“But I also said in the on-court interview, that she is a human being. We all make mistakes, and sometimes I play horribly and have bad days as well. For me, what is more of a question is that ATP has the technology, and we have the technology to have the video review. We have tried it out before at the ATP Cup or the United Cup, I don’t remember which one.”

“All the players loved it. They loved the video review, and we have the technology, so it´s not difficult to do. The big question is why we are not using it.”