Alexander Zverev was visibly upset after his loss at the 2023 Munich Open in front of the home fans.
The German suffered a second-round defeat to Australia's Christopher O'Connell. This shocking loss came on the heels of Zverev's previous disappointing defeat to Daniil Medvedev in Monte Carlo. Despite the home crowd's encouragement at the ATP 250 event in Munich, Zverev found himself unable to beat the Australian and win.
After the match, he provided a candid confession about his nerves when playing in Germany. Acknowledging the stark contrast between his in-match performance and practice sessions, Zverev shed light on the self-imposed pressure and its impact on his gameplay, as he admitted to playing slower and moving more cautiously when nerves take hold.
"In the last few years, I've had a hard time coping with the pressure of playing in Germany. I'm incredibly nervous. I don't show anywhere near the level in the match that I show in training."
The talented German expressed hope that his Munich loss would follow a familiar pattern, where an early exit in Munich would precede a triumphant run in Madrid.
"When I'm nervous, I don't play so hard. I move slower. I play slower. That's a combination of things. I put the pressure on myself. It doesn't come from outside. Right now I don't feel like doing anything. Hopefully, it will be like every year. I lose the first round here and I win Madrid."
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