{"id":300064,"date":"2023-11-21T16:24:06","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T16:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=300064"},"modified":"2023-11-21T16:24:06","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T16:24:06","slug":"alexander-zverev-gives-backhanded-apology-to-medvedev-after-sportsmanship-row","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/tennis\/alexander-zverev-gives-backhanded-apology-to-medvedev-after-sportsmanship-row\/","title":{"rendered":"Alexander Zverev gives backhanded apology to Medvedev after sportsmanship row"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Alexander Zverev has admitted that he regrets starting a row with Daniil Medvedev after their fiery match at the Monte Carlo Masters earlier this year. Zverev later claimed that he was disappointed in the world No 3 \u201cas an athlete\u201d while Medvedev responded with some criticism of his own. Although the German doesn\u2019t think he should have lashed out, he still doubled down on his suggestions that Medvedev was unsportsmanlike in a backhanded apology.<\/p>\n

Zverev and Medvedev faced off a staggering six times this year, with the Russian winning five of the encounters. Their most memorable match came in Monte Carlo, where the 27-year-old saved two match points came from a set down to defeat the German. Medvedev ran out of official toilet breaks during the match but agreed with the umpire that he could run off to use the bathroom he did so in the short allotted time for a changeover.<\/p>\n

But Zverev wasn\u2019t happy with the decision, later claiming that it wasn\u2019t \u201cfair play\u201d in a scathing post-match interview. Medvedev bit back when the comments were put to him, saying that his rival was \u201cliving in his own world\u201d. The pair were still able to be civil on the court for the rest of the year and the world No 7 has now conceded that he shouldn\u2019t have slated Medvedev in Monte Carlo.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day I should have gone to him and said \u2018Hey, what’s the point?\u2019 and shouldn’t give an interview about it,\u201d the 21-time title winner told Sky Germany. \u201cI swore to myself during the match that if I lose, I’ll shake his hand. If I win the match, then I won’t shake his hand. That was just too much for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Referencing their first meeting of the year in Indian Wells, Zverev admitted that he wasn\u2019t too happy with Medvedev anyway and things got too much when the Russian went to the toilet in Monte Carlo. He continued: \u201cI was disappointed, I was angry at that moment because I had the feeling that I needed that one breakthrough at that moment. That could have happened in Indian Wells, there were a few scenes there that were strange. In Monte Carlo it was just too much.\u201d<\/p>\n

But it seems that Zverev isn\u2019t too sorry for his criticism of Medvedev as he still stands by his thoughts. \u201cI also believe that a lot of things happened in this match that shouldn’t have happened. I’m not backing down from that,\u201d he added. \u201cI really believe that the match wasn’t won by playing tennis and that’s something I hate. I hate it when something like that is done and I find it incredibly unsportsmanlike.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the time, Zverev told the broadcaster: \u201cI take fair play and sportsmanship very serious. He does not. I\u2019m extremely disappointed from him as an athlete. Of course you can argue that it’s not good from me that I get distracted. This should not happen to me and it\u2019s totally my fault and it really was bad from my side. But still I feel fair play should always be part of sports.\u201d<\/p>\n