Alexander Zverev has a very strong record at the ATP Finals, having won the prestigious year-end tournament on two separate occasions.
The German’s most recent triumph came at the 2021 edition, when he defeated Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev en route to the title. His first, though, was in 2018 in London, where he had to go through not one, but two members of the big three to get his hands on the trophy.
Before battling past Djokovic in the final that year, Zverev overcame Roger Federer in a thrilling semifinal, filled with drama.
Alexander Zverev’s controversial match with Roger Federer
A set to the good, Zverev had been forced to a second-set tiebreak, which the Swiss started well. Federer was receiving while up 4-3 in the shootout, but in the middle of a point, a ball boy dropped a ball and went to grab it during play, causing Zverev to stop in his tracks and shout: “Wait, wait, wait”.
Zverev was well within his rights to do so, as the rules state that if such a hindrance occurs, a let should be played. But the pro-Federer crowd inside London’s O2 Arena did not seem to care, and Zverev, who went on to win the tiebreak and the match, 7-5, 7-6, was showered with boos when trying to explain his side of the story in his post-match interview.
Discuss: Alexander Zverev will finish his career with _ Grand Slam titles?
He’s just won his second at the US Open!
Addressing the situation in his post-match press conference, Zverev said: “I mean, the ball boy dropped the ball in the middle of the rally, then ran for it. Without even thinking, I stopped the rally, said it was a let. That’s how it is with the rules.
“Obviously, the crowd didn’t appreciate it, which I was a little bit upset – not upset, but I was a little bit sad at the end with the booing and reaction of the crowd. Maybe they didn’t know what actually happened. That was maybe part of the reaction.
“But, you know, at the end of the day, I said sorry to Roger at the net. He said, Look, you don’t even have to apologise. This is all part of the game. This happens.”
Roger Federer’s reaction to the controversy at the ATP Finals
Asked if the incident with the ball boy affected him, Federer said in his press conference: “I mean, what do you mean, ‘it affected me’? Of course it did. It got replayed. I got aced. So, yes, it did affect me.
“I don’t know what the rules are. I just think I was trying to think what I would have done in his position, you know. It’s bold to stop the rally because I don’t know if it’s an umpire’s decision or not.
“While you’re hitting, that might go through your head. So I would have probably said, Whew, I’ll probably keep on playing, unless the ball really rolls into the court quickly.
“It’s a very difficult call. I didn’t see it. The umpire didn’t see it. But, you know, once the ball boy said that’s what happened, linesman confirmed, the umpire believes them, which is obviously true, what is there to be done? It’s normal to replay the point from that point on.
“It was obviously a big call. Instead of being in the rally in a decent position, you get aced, yes, it makes a difference. It could have made a difference. That’s all hypothetically speaking now at this point.”
Federer returned to the semifinals of the ATP Finals the following year, but lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas, marking his last-ever match at the event.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
Add to Preferred Sources 