Zverev: This is Worst Court I’ve Ever Played On
By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Photo credit: BMW Open Facebook
Alexander Zverev has faced the best and asserts Rome is the absolute worst.
A disconsolate Zverev failed to convert four match points in the tiebreaker suffering a brutal 6-1, 6-7(10), 0-6 loss to Italian Luciano Darderi in a Rome shocker on BNP Paribas Arena Court.
After enduring that painful collapse, Zverev nuked Rome’s red clay as “the worst court I’ve ever played on.”
Asked about the windy conditions, Zverev took aim at what he suggests are shoddy court conditions creating bad bounces.
“It was difficult to play. I mean, to be honest, the court, I think this is the worst
court I’ve ever played on,” Zverev said. “Juniors, professional, futures, practice, I never played on a court where the court quality is that bad.
“I have match point and the ball jumps over my head. I have break point, the ball rolls. Like yeah…
Yeah, the wind was tough. Overall, again, I just think I should have won the match in two sets. After that, yeah, he played fantastic.”
To be fair, Zverev’s comments came minutes after losing a match he should have won.
However, Zverev critics will have a field day given the fact he placed himself at Carlos Alcaraz level following the 58-minute thrashing he suffered to No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the Mutua Madrid Open final this month.
“I think there’s a big gap between Sinner and everybody else right now,” Zverev said in Madrid. “It’s quite
simple. I think there’s a big gap between Sinner and everybody else. And I think there’s a big gap between Alcaraz, myself, maybe Novak, and everybody else.
“I think there’s two gaps right now. It’s difficult to say that there’s not a gap between Sinner
and everybody else if he hasn’t lost a match in how many Masters events? Since Shanghai. He hasn’t lost a match in almost nine months. I think you have to admit that there’s a gap between him and everybody else, yeah.”
Today, Zverev was bageled by No. 20 Darderi, was 3-15 lifetime vs. Top 20 opponents before delivering an outstanding close today.
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