Alexander Zverev fumes at major issue after Novak Djokovic loss: 'It's ridiculous'
ALEXANDER ZVEREV has fumed at the length of the tennis season after losing to Novak Djokovic this afternoon.
ATP Finals: Novak Djokovic reflects on Alexander Zverev win
Djokovic beat the NextGen star 6-4, 6-1 in their second match of the ATP finals to go clear top of Group Guga Kuerten.
However, Zverev is frustrated the season-ending event comes 11 months after the opening tournament.
The German feels players burn out and the world No 5 says he has not played his best tennis for two months.
Djokovic claimed to still be struggling with illness after the round robin match but Zverev insists his poor form is down to the extensive schedule.
"The issue is that our season is way too long," Zverev said.
"That's the issue. But I've said it before. We play for 11 months a year. That's ridiculous. No other professional sport does that.
"I haven't felt my best in, like, two months, to be honest.
"But maybe he was a little bit sick or something like that.
"But he still played like he felt at his absolute best. That's kind of all that matters."
Zverev was well in the match in the first set but his attitude changed after being broken early in the second.
Confidence was flowing through the 21-year-old prior to the showdown and he explains that is because he does not fear the top players.
"I go out to a match, I don't think I will lose," Zverev added.
"That's not how I think. I'm going out there to play and to compete.
"Obviously he's No 1 in the world, I'm not. But I still go out on court as equals.
"I still think that I have chances. Next time I play him, I still think the same way.
"It doesn't mean I always have to win, but I take every opponent as an equal."