Zverev: “When you’re not at your best, there’s no chance – he’s like a wall”

Alexander Zverev offered an unsparing verdict on his 6-1, 6-4 defeat to Jannik Sinner in the Monte-Carlo semifinals on Saturday, acknowledging fatigue, admitting the gap was wider than their Miami meeting, and firmly dismissing the notion that clay exposed any weakness in his opponent.

“When you’re not playing at your absolute maximum, I guess you lose a lot (against Alcaraz and Sinner),” Zverev said. “I’m a little tired. When you’re not at your best, I guess there’s no chance – Jannik is like a wall. He gives you nothing.”

The German was candid about the contrast with their meeting two weeks ago in Miami, where he pushed Sinner harder (6-3, 7-6). “In Miami I was much closer, especially the second set. To be honest, the second set could have gone my way and I felt like I had more chances than him. Here I didn’t really have much chances. That’s the biggest difference.”

I feel like this week I didn’t play well.

“I’ve won five games today. I think you should ask me again in Madrid, Zverev answered when he was asked his feeling on the fact that Sinner was not the same threaten on clay. Maybe today the weakness was on my side. Of course not his.”

Zverev has now lost to Sinner in four consecutive Masters 1000 semifinals – Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte-Carlo. He led their head-to-head 4-1 at one stage. It now stands 9-4 in the Italian’s favour. The German did not dispute the state of play, but flagged the gap between his form this week and what he believes he can produce. “I feel like this week I didn’t play well. But I’m losing to him a lot this year, so I need to check what is the main difference.”

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