During the post match press conference, the German discussed the importance of social media on a tennis player's career.
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Alexander Zverev is in danger of missing the second round at Roland Garros. The German did not play his best tennis and fell behind two sets to one owing to Sebastian Baez’s outstanding performance. The current world number three allowed Baez to take control of the exchanges in the final and decisive set. The Argentinian squandered a break advantage before squandering a crucial match point at 5-4. Zverev, however, made the difference in the most crucial stage of the match, and he comfortably won the final three games. During the post match press conference, the German discussed the importance of social media on a tennis player’s career and sarcastically responded to a journalist’s question by looking down at his phone.
“Can you at least look at me when I give you an answer?” asked Zverev to the journalist in question. “Because you asked me a question and then you stand there with the phone. My mental health depends on other problems, not on social media. I never talk about it unlike other players. I don’t like doing it, but this year I fought a lot from this point of view. I think I was also quite depressed. The pressure we are subjected to is great, we are constantly in the spotlight.”
Everything is important. You need to learn not to dwell on negative comments. Tennis players who played 20-30 years ago cannot understand. There is always a camera ready to frame you or a person ready to insult you on social media. This is the world we live in now. It is sad to see, but it is the reality. Everyone can say what they want on social networks, for better or for worse,” the German added.
In another incident of players losing their cool at the French Open this year, Alex de Minaur accused those in attendance of ‘crossing the line’ after his loss to Hugo Gaston on Tuesday at Roland Garros. In a four-hour, five-set battle against his French opponent, Australia’s No. 1 player was thrown out of the clay-court major at the first hurdle. Throughout the match, De Minaur faced shouts and jeers from the patriotic home crowd, whose songs and applause for Gaston, 21, helped catapult the Olympic youth winner to a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 0-6, 7-6 (10-4) victory.
“There’s a difference between a great atmosphere and supporting your fellow countryman, which is completely fine and it’s great,” said the Aussie. I’m sure for him it was an amazing atmosphere. He enjoyed every second of it, but there’s a line. When I’m getting told things by people in the crowd, making eye contact with me after I hit a double fault, I think there’s a certain line that needs to be looked at.”
