Alexander Zverev complains about ‘swallowing 50 flies’ in bizarre moment during French Open QF loss to Novak Djokovic
Alexander Zverev’s Bizarre Complaint About ‘Swallowing 50 Flies’ During French Open 2025 Loss to Djokovic
In a peculiar moment during his 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 defeat to Novak Djokovic in the French Open 2025 quarter-finals on June 4, Alexander Zverev complained about “swallowing about 50 flies” on Court Philippe-Chatrier, as reported by The Sun and posts on X, including @cajun_vegas. The unusual remark came as both players were visibly frustrated by tiny insects buzzing around during the night session, with Zverev seen swatting them away while serving, per AP News. Zverev later elaborated in his press conference, per Tennis.com, that the flies, combined with windy and cold conditions, disrupted his rhythm, saying, “It was tough with the flies and the wind. I felt like I was swallowing them constantly, and it was hard to focus.”[](https://apnews.com/article/french-open-bugs-djokovic-zverev-b1034f5dcd55baa3e26264f1447605a8)
The distraction added to Zverev’s struggles against Djokovic’s tactical masterclass, which included 35 drop shots that exposed Zverev’s baseline-heavy game, as noted by The Athletic. Despite a strong first set, where he broke Djokovic early and served at 80% first-serve accuracy, Zverev couldn’t counter Djokovic’s variety, losing momentum after a 41-shot rally in the fourth set. He admitted, “I didn’t know how to win a point from the baseline against him,” per The Independent. The flies, while a minor nuisance, became a focal point of Zverev’s post-match frustration, with @SunSport on X highlighting his “disgusting” ordeal, noting he was “doubled over” at times.
Djokovic, unfazed by the insects, secured his 13th Roland Garros semi-final, setting up a clash with Jannik Sinner. Zverev’s fly-related complaint, while bizarre, underscored the challenging conditions that amplified his tactical struggles, as he earned €415,000 for his quarter-final run but fell short of a fifth consecutive semi-final
