Tennis star rants

Zverev furious: “I’m so pissed off”

Alexander Zverev is unhappy with the program.(Bild: AFP/APA/PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA)

After Alex Zverev had only won his Olympic third round match against Australian Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday evening, he had to return to the court at lunchtime on Thursday. The German didn't have much time to relax, and his anger was correspondingly high. "I'm so pissed off, I can't even tell you," Zverev grumbled to the German newspaper "Bild".

The 27-year-old will face Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals. The Italian had already prevailed in two sets against the American Taylor Fritz in the early afternoon on Wednesday and was therefore able to relax and prepare for the upcoming duel during Zverev's match. 

"A cheek"
Unfair, in the Hamburg player's opinion. "The scheduling is a cheek," the Tokyo Olympic champion grumbled about the lack of a rest day between matches - unlike at Grand Slams. 

"I went to the ITF (International Tennis Federation) and told them properly. That really can't be right," Zverev complained, but it won't change the program. If he wants to successfully defend his 2021 title, he will have to appear on court with seven hours less rest, for better or worse ...