Alexander Zverev

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/F. Tiafoe

6-3, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Well done. How do you assess your performance today?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, it was pretty good. I felt like I was dominating from the baseline. The things that I was working on, I feel like today they worked well on the court.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Novak said you guys played golf the other day. So many questions about it, but what's your handicap? Where did you guys play? How was that?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Me and Carlos played every day almost, actually. Novak joined us two days ago.

Yeah, it was fun. Me and Carlos are very competitive, we're on a similar level. I'm about an 8.something, and he's similar to that. So we get quite competitive matches out of it.

Then, yeah, Novak joined us, as well, which was quite fun.

Q. Playing Arthur next, what do you make of him as a player?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Yeah, he's a great player, I think very young, very talented. When he's healthy, obviously he showed in the beginning of last year what he can do, so yeah, I'm going to prepare for a tough match.

Again, I think if I play the way I played and my tennis is there, I have to trust myself and believe in my abilities as well.

Q. How far do you think he can you go, based on having seen him up close?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: Here? No, no. He's going to lose on Thursday (smiling).

Q. No, no, not here, obviously. In general.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: No, I have always been a fan of him. I have always thought that he has all the talent, all the potential. I think if he's disciplined enough, he can go quite far, and he can compete with the best.

Q. It's going to get pretty hot later this week. Do you have a preference, playing in the day session when it's warmer and faster, or do you prefer the night session when it's a little cooler?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I haven't played at night yet, so I kind of got used to the day session already. I think this tournament is probably the biggest difference between night and day sessions that there is. If I play during the day, I'm fine with that.

Q. How do you reflect on the semifinals in Australia at this point?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I reflect on it in a positive way. I think I played the right way. I gave it my absolute all, and I lost a tough battle to the eventual champion.

Would I have liked to have won it, yes, for sure. I liked my chances in the final then, as well, but Rafa has a great quote: "Ifs don't happen in sport."

So I've lost, but I'll take positives away from that.

Q. You don't think you could have been more aggressive at times when he was hurting?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I think I was very aggressive throughout the entire match. I think, yeah, when he was hurting, maybe I should have won the third and fourth set quicker, but it was tough. If you look at the match, he was swinging, and he was making a lot, like he was not missing really. So first ball after the serve was flat out, and he was making his shots.

Q. Do you feel like you're playing a little bit better in the year, now that a lot of the offcourt stuff has died down in the last few years?

ALEXANDER ZVEREV: I think it's not a subject.