Alexander Zverev admitted he didn’t know it was championship point after he won the US Open final against Ben Shelton on Sunday. After winning the championship point and holding his serve, Zverev went back to baseline to receive Shelton’s serve, thinking the score was 5-1 in the fourth set, but it was 6-2.
“In that moment, I was in the zone a lot. I didn’t hear noise at all,” Zverev shared. “I was in this kind of tunnel where I just didn’t hear anything. Also, when the crowd is loud, it’s impossible to hear the umpire, so I didn’t hear that she said, ‘Game, set, match’. At the end of the day, I just forgot the score. I just thought it was 5-1 instead of 6-2.”
In the 2020 US Open final against Dominic Thiem, Zverev was two points away from winning his first Major title but could not serve out the match in the fifth set. The German admitted he was able to remove the ghosts of 2020 final loss after recently winning his first Slam at Roland Garros.
“I think the scars of the 2020 final, they kind of disappeared after I won in Paris,” Zverev admitted. “I said it at Wimbledon. Even though I lost the final, I enjoyed the match. I enjoyed being in the Grand Slam final, I enjoyed playing on Centre Court, I enjoyed playing in front of an amazing crowd, in front of some celebrities and all that. I enjoyed doing that.
“Whereas before winning in Paris, I felt a lot of stress all the time, because there was always a question mark: ‘Will I ever win one?’ What I think now is just more of a joy to play those kinds of finals.”
The 29-year-old said he has improved his game by working hard on the court.
“I think I’m up there, because I’ve said it before, I don’t think I’m the most talented in any way,” Zverev admitted. “I don’t think I’m a God-given talent like some other guys are. I think most of my tennis is through hard work, through a lot of hours spent on the court, and through a lot of hours spent in the gym and on the track. That’s how I play tennis.”
Zverev would look to continue his rich form in the rest of the season.
