Zverev criticizes ball quality again and takes a shot at Musetti’s style of play after Rome Open defeat
Following a tough quarterfinal loss to Lorenzo Musetti at the Rome Open, world No. 2 Alexander Zverev didn’t hold back in his post-match comments. Frustrated with the playing conditions, the German once again zeroed in on a familiar complaint: ball quality. He also took a subtle jab at Musetti’s defensive style of play.
Zverev has never been one to mince words after a defeat, and Wednesday’s match was no exception. Speaking candidly, he offered his take on why things didn’t go his way.
Zverev on Musetti: “He Relies on Mistakes”
Asked how this match differed from previous encounters with Musetti, Zverev was frank in his analysis:
“I think he plays the same way on clay all the time. He relies a lot on defense and on his opponent’s mistakes,” said Zverev, suggesting that Musetti’s approach was more reactive than proactive.
Interestingly, both players recorded 20 winners each in the match. So while Zverev critiqued Musetti’s lack of offensive initiative, he himself did not significantly outplay his opponent in terms of shot-making.
“The Balls Were a Joke”
Zverev reserved his strongest criticism for the match equipment.
“The balls were a joke today,” he said bluntly, before elaborating: “This has been a topic for three or four years now. Players talk about it constantly.”
He pointed out inconsistencies across tournaments despite official claims of uniformity:
“They say we play with the same ball in Monaco, Madrid, Munich. Then we come here and it’s completely different. The ball is very big. It’s hard to hit winners.”
Zverev argued that the conditions didn’t suit his aggressive game:
“I try to play aggressively and serve fast. That’s my style. But it’s hard to get free points in these conditions.”
He also lamented missed opportunities in the opening set:
“It was very slow, very heavy. The balls were getting big quickly. I had three or four set points on my serve. Usually, I win that set. It was just tough out there today.”
