Alexander Zverev explains how taking time away from close ones helped him grow

World No. 7 Alexander Zverev says he has a close relationship with his family and not having them all in New York feels a bit weird. 

The USTA found a way to stage the US Open but everyone involved in this year's tournament has to follow strict health restrictions inside the bubble.

The 23-year-old German claimed he didn't want to force anyone from his staff to come with him. 

"I'm somebody that travels with the family all the time, I'm always around my dad, my mother, my brother as well, and they're all not here which is for me, a little bit weird so I traveled here only with my physical trainer and my physio," Alexander Zverev told CNN.

"None of my coaching staff or team members want to go here, they didn't feel safe. I respect that, so I was not pushing them towards it."

Mischa Zverev hopes his brother will achieve a good result at the US Open but the most important thing for him is that the 23-year-old returns home feeling well.

"I think my concern or the whole family's concern is like, not how far you make it in the US Open," Mischa Zverev told CNN Sport, relaying a message of familial love. "We want you to come back healthy and once you come back, you want the whole team to come back healthy and as quickly as possible.

"And that's all we care about, that's all we really care about."

Zverev went out of his comfort zone 

Recently, 2018 Nitto ATP Finals champion Zverev decided to take some time away from his family and do everything by himself. 

The former world No. 3 says that has helped him to grow and mature.

"You learn that tennis, at the end of day, is not everything," Alex said. "There's more important things and that you really have to take care of the people that are around you, that you love.

"I kind of went to Europe by myself, and I was alone for about one and a half, two months without my parents, without my brother, without anyone else, and you just learn to appreciate little things more.

"I think I've got more disciplined ... I had to really grow up in a way, because I had to train myself, I had to go through my daily life myself, rocery shopping, food, everything like that, I had to do it myself, which I never used to do."

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/32wBo8h