Alexander Zverev launches scathing attack on Italian Open after suffering huge collapse

Alexander Zverev has claimed that the Italian Open’s second-biggest showcourt, the BNP Paribas Arena, is the “worst court he’s ever played on” after suffering a huge collapse in the fourth round. The No. 2 seed served for the match against Luciano Darderi on Tuesday and had four match points in a second-set tiebreak.

But he couldn’t get it done, dropping the second set and getting bagelled in the decider as Darderi caused a big upset and claimed a 1-6 7-6(10) 6-0 comeback victory. It was the first time this fortnight that Zverev had played on the BNP Paribas Arena instead of Campo Centrale, aka centre court, and he wasn’t happy, launching an attack on the quality of the court.

“It was difficult to play. I mean, to be honest, the court, I think this is the worst court I've ever played on. Juniors, professional, futures, practice, I never played on a court where the court quality is that bad,” the two-time former champion in Rome said.

“I have match point, and the ball jumps over my head. I have break point, the ball rolls. Like yeah… The wind was tough. Overall, again, I just think I should have won the match in two sets. After that, yeah, he played fantastic.”

Zverev – who finished runner-up in Madrid ahead of the Italian Open, losing that final to Jannik Sinner in 58 minutes – also admitted he felt tired during his match against Darderi.

“I mean, I did get tired. Whether it's a sickness or I just played a lot of tennis... That's one of the reasons,” he explained. “Yeah, I think I should have won the match in two sets. That's just the story from there. Of course, the third set went for him. He played amazing tennis. I should have won the match in two sets.”

No. 18 seed Darderi has, however, argued that both players had to adjust to the conditions. After getting the “most important” win of his career, the Italian said: “It wasn't easy today. It was windy and difficult to control. In the end, however, it was there for both of us. It's true that the court wasn't at its best at times; there were some bad bounces. I, however, got used to the situation.”

This is the first time this year that Zverev has lost a Masters 1000 match to someone other than Sinner. The world No. 1 beat the German in the semi-finals in Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo before their one-sided Madrid Open final. It’s also Zverev’s earliest loss in Rome in three years.

But the three-time Grand Slam finalist still believes he could beat Sinner to win the French Open next month, and says he has to think that way, otherwise the Italian will win.

“Maybe this is a bit of a blessing in a bad moment for me. I can rest and recharge and be 100 per cent ready for the French Open. I can take a couple of days off. I have almost two weeks now till my next match, so yeah. I hope I can use that time,” Zverev added.

“That's been the case. I do have to believe that I'm capable of beating him. I do have to believe it, otherwise we can just give him the trophy without playing the tournament.”

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