Alexander Zverev: Dominic Thiem deserved Grand Slam title more than me

After suffering a heartbreaking US Open final loss, world No. 7 Alexander Zverev returned to his home in Monaco to relax a bit and clear his head before the French Open.

On Sunday, No. 6 seed Zverev made a convincing start to his French Open campaign as he saw off world No. 91 Dennis Novak in straight sets 7-5 6-2 6-4. 

"I was on a boat in Monaco doing nothing at all. Then I came here. Then I practiced. Now I'm gonna play hopefully seven matches here, six more, and then we'll see," Zverev said after winning his first match at the French Open, per Jose Morgado.

After his opening round win at the French Open, Zverev also spoke positively about former world No. 1 Serena Williams.

The German thinks Williams would be a great coach but he doubts she will pursue a coaching career once he calls it a career.

"She'd be a great coach. I get along super well with her. We have a laugh every time we see each other.But, yeah, honestly, do I believe she's going to be coaching after she's done with tennis? No. She doesn't need to. She has other things to do," Zverev said of Williams.

Zverev admits Dominic Thiem deserved more than him a Grand Slam title 

Zverev was a set away from winning his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open but world No. 3 Dominic Thiem recovered from two sets down to earn his first Major title at Flushing Meadows.

Thiem finished runner-up to Rafael Nadal in each of the past two French Open finals, before he ended runner-up to Novak Djokovic in this year's Australian Open final.

"Physically I'm OK, mentally it's tough when you are the first since 70something years to lose from 0:2-down. My perspective was soon that Dominic deserved it more regarding the US Open and last year or year and a half he was closer and a better tennis player," Zverev admitted, per Jannik Schneider.

After Thiem won the US Open, Djokovic said the Austrian deserved it.

"But, you know, the young guys are showing some great perspective, some great potential. I think mentally and also physically and game-wise they start believing more. I mean, you know, you have new Grand Slam champion, Dominic Thiem, which is fantastic to see also. He deserves it absolutely," Djokovic said at the Rome Masters.

Meanwhile, Zverev plays next against either Pierre-Hugues Herbert or Michael Mmoh.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/33ckVYI