Zverev: 'Roger Federer is one of the greatest people. We are friends'
Alexander Zverev spoke about what will mean for tennis when Roger Federer will retire from the professional tour. The 22-year-old said: "We will lose not only the greatest tennis player of all time but also one of the greatest people of all time on and off the court. How he interacts with fans and other players, he is somebody who I am very friends to. We are a very close relationship. I hope it doesn't happen for many years but if one day he decides to hang up the racket I hope everybody will respect it because he has done everything he can for the sport and he is probably the most respectful guy that we have in sports."
Asked if he imagines a life without tennis, Zverev said: "No. Since I have been a little kid I always wanted to be a tennis player, I always loved to play tennis, you know, being involved in sports if I were not a tennis player, in some ways, probably in football because in Germany it's the biggest sport. I used to play it as well but I always wanted to be a tennis player."
Asked what he knows about Colombia, Zverev replied: "It's a great country. The nature is incredible, you have the mountains, the two oceans, animal and wild life. I wish I maybe could be back here just for a holiday. They also have a doubles duo that has won two Grand Slams so they are very special for Colombian people, for the players as well."
Asked what skill Roger Federer should learn from him, in an interview Zverev said: "He has won 20 Grand Slams, that's not our world. Even if I have won him a few times, he is still the greatest, I should learn from him."
Asked what advices he has for the young Colombian players, Zverev replied: "Just have fun. Sports should first of all be played because you love it and not because you are good. Sports in general should be because you have fun. If you love tennis that's absolutely amazing and it's great. If you love anything else like football or basketball or something like that, it's also nice that you have that part. So play the sport that you love, be active and just try your best."
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/350R1Ff
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