Zverev gives the reason for his defeat against Davidovich: "I'm not a robot"

Alexander Zverev can leave the ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai 2026 with the satisfaction that comes from having given his all on the court and feeling that he had nothing more to offer. The German player acted like a true number 1, acknowledging in the press conference the merit of Alejandro Davidovich, but also expressing an extreme fatigue that affected his performance.

Being the number 1 in the world is a huge privilege, but it also comes with great responsibilities. Alexander Zverev seems to have perfectly understood that holding this position entails the moral obligation to fight until the end, to honor tennis in both victory and defeat, and to compete for everything even when not in the best possible condition. He did so at the ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai 2026 even though he fell to Alejandro Davidovich.

This is what Zverev said after losing to Davidovich in Shanghai

Davidovich's good performance and his great sin

"I knew he was going to serve to that area, but I think the return is the shot that is hardest to execute when you're a bit fatigued, because the first thing that gets tired in tennis, in my opinion, is the eyesight. I was clear about where he was going to direct the serve and many times I managed to get my racket on it, but I missed and couldn't return the ball inside the court."

"We have to give credit to Alejandro. He played as he should and, in my opinion, he completed a good match. There's nothing wrong with losing. I feel I did things well during this tournament and, besides, we can all suffer from fatigue. It's something normal."

🤩 La 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐚 𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 de Davidovich. Gran victoria, con remontada incluida, del español para 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐙𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐯 (5-7, 6-4 y 6-3) y hacerse un hueco en la final de Shanghái. #LaPistaDelTenis https://t.co/hsJxWRmko5

— Movistar Plus Deportes (@MPlusDeportes) October 17, 2026

How to cope with a defeat like this after a great season

"It depends on the defeat. If I feel I could have done something more, it hurts, and it will always be that way. What you have won in the past doesn’t change that feeling. But, if you consider that you did everything you could, you face it differently. Curiously, I think this week I even exceeded expectations, considering the amount of tennis I have played."

"I lost to Alejandro, a player that some will point out for being around 20th in the world, but who is playing very well. Plus, I came to the tournament carrying some injury and fatigue. That's why I can accept today's defeat against a player like him."

Ankles discomfort

"Interestingly, my ankle bothered me more in the early rounds than today. In fact, today it was quite good. Perhaps those who watched the match noticed that I was moving a bit slower and wasn't running as much. But I'm not going to say anything new: I've played a lot of tennis, and that's a good sign for me. Also, I managed to get through this year without major injuries, which is also positive."

Need to rest and evaluation of his Asian tour

"I'm not a robot, I'm a human being (smiles) and I get tired. That's how it is. After the US Open, I’ve only had one day off in total. I've played a lot of tennis, which is very positive because it means I’ve been playing well. Here I’ve also had very demanding matches."

"Personally, I feel that I was lacking energy since the match against Bublik. I played an extraordinary match against Alex de Miñaur, but today I felt out of strength. Even in the first set, although I won it, I felt more subdued and didn't react as well. I wasn't returning well either. But, once again, we are all human, even the best players in the world."

"Yes, I'm going to rest (laughs). I'm going home and I'm not going to train. Now it's Saturday, and if I play in Vienna, I have ten days ahead. But I have to see how my body responds, because I think I need a break right now. In any case, I'm sure I’ll take a couple of days off."

"It has been a good tour. I came from playing a lot of tennis in the previous weeks. In Beijing, I arrived a day before the tournament began, after the Laver Cup, and I played a fantastic match against Novak, although I lost it. Those things can happen. Here I felt the fatigue a bit more. It is what it is."

Alexander Zverev has reasons to regard everything accomplished in this ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai 2026 as positive and to approach the rest of the season without competitive pressure while acknowledging the need to take a break in order to recover physical freshness.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Zverev da el motivo de su derrota ante Davidovich: "No soy un robot"