In a recent report by The Express, German tennis star Alexander Zverev candidly shared his exhaustion after a grueling schedule at the Rolex Paris Masters. Zverev revealed he felt “dead” after finishing his second round match just before 10 p.m. local time and then returning to the court less than 17 hours later. This revelation follows criticism from several players who expressed their concerns about the scheduling of the Paris-Bercy tournament.
Jannik Sinner, another tournament participant, faced a particularly grueling ordeal. Sinner’s game ended at 2:37 a.m., and he was originally scheduled to return to the field for the final game of the day. However, he eventually had to abandon the competition due to fatigue.
Zverev, seeded 10th at the Paris Masters, has had a demanding schedule himself. After an epic three hour and 29 minute battle with Ugo Humbert, he finished his previous match at 9:56 p.m. local time and was back on the pitch at 2:40 p.m. the next day. Despite his admirable efforts, Zverev was beaten by world number 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas, who delivered a tremendous performance with 10 aces en route to the quarter-finals.
Reflecting on his tax schedule, Zverev said: “I’m dead. I think you could see it on the field.
However, he acknowledged that it wasn’t just his match that was affected by the schedule, as two other matches took place even later than his.
Zverev’s comments follow widespread criticism of the ATP over scheduling issues at the Paris Masters. Players and coaches voiced their concerns, particularly after Sinner’s round of 16 ended at 2:37 a.m. Such scheduling challenges have raised questions about the physical and mental impact on athletes and their ability to perform at their best.
As the Paris Masters continues, the debate around the schedule and player welfare remains a topic of discussion, highlighting the importance of balancing a competitive tournament with the welfare of participants.
Alexander Zverev in 2023
Ranked world number 1.9, Alexander played his last match on 2sd of November when he lost to world number 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(2) 6-4 in the 3rd round Paris (draw).
During this season, the German has a record of 53-26. Zverev won 2 titles in 2023 in Hamburg and Chengdu.
Zverev will next compete in Sofia (Sofia Open). He will start from the main draw which begins on November 7.
