Zverev, on Saudi Arabia: "I'm not a politician, if there is a Masters 1000 there, I play it"

Raquel Bermúdez Rodríguez | 24 Oct 2025 | 10.00

Zverev, about the Arabian 1000 Masters: "It's a country that is doing a lot in sports". Photo: Getty

Streaming M15 Klagenfurt live tennis

🎾 Oleksii Krutykh vs Lucio Ratti

Sign up with Bet365 here
Make your first deposit of at least €5
Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

After surpassing Jacob Fearnley despite the complications and Matteo Arnaldi, Alexander Zverev finds himself already in the quarterfinals of ATP Vienna 2025. At this stage of the European tournament, the German player will face Tallon Griekspoor with the aim of continuing to improve his sensations on the court.

This was not his best season, but Alexander Zverev still has room to improve his average grade. Aware of his performance up to date, the German player expressed satisfaction after overcoming another test in the ATP Vienna 2025. Here are his words from the press conference.

Alexander Zverev talks about the Saudi Arabia Masters 1000

"Considering that the season hasn't been very good, I still reached 50 victories, so I'd say it was okay. Today, I'm happy to be able to continue," said the German, proud of his recent results and reaching that number of wins in a season more gray than colorful.

Alexander Zverev analyzes Tallon Griekspoor, his next opponent

"He is a very, very good server, plays very aggressively. Against strong players, he always steps up, has already defeated many excellent players, including myself. Against weaker opponents, he sometimes has problems. His results make you doubt and wonder what happened, but against high-level players, he is very effective, so I expect a very tough match tomorrow."

Changes in the schedule and Saudi Arabia

"If they promise us that with the money from the tenth Masters they will buy back tournaments/weeks and thus shorten the season, it would be great for us, the players. If the season is shortened by 3 or 4 weeks and we don't have to play until the end of November or early December, but "only" until mid-November, it would be a great idea. If they don't do anything with that money and just add a tournament, it would be a nice story, but it wouldn't make much sense for the Top 10/Top 20. I hope we are on the right track.

Regarding Saudi Arabia, I liked it, I enjoyed being there a lot. It is a country that is doing a lot in sports, and it's good to see, but I also want the ATP to take the next steps: maybe buy back some of the year-end 250 tournaments or reorganize them, to have a season that is three or four weeks shorter and a preseason that is not only four weeks but maybe eight. It would be beneficial for all the top players. Having three more weeks of preseason would be fantastic."

Alexander Zverev and the political aspect of the Saudi Arabia tournament

"On political matters, the context is not always the best, but they are trying to change. Three years ago, I wasn't there, but this year it felt like a new country to me. I'm not a politician. If there is a Masters 1000 there, I play it. They have been played in Dubai or Doha for 30 years, and I don't think there have been any problems. I can speak for what I know, which is tennis. The ATP should start using that money to give something back to the players."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Zverev, sobre Arabia Saudí: "No soy político, si hay un Masters 1000 allí, lo juego"