Former Grand Slam Champion Slams Alexander Zverev for ‘Reacting Like a Child’ After Rome Exit: “I Get Bored”

Alexander Zverev crashed out of the Italian Open with a three-set defeat to Luciano Darderi in the fourth round. After his exit, Zverev complained about the court, calling it “the worst” he has ever played.

Sascha, even though he has made deep runs in almost every tournament he has played this year, has yet to clinch a title since winning the 2025 Munich Open against Ben Shelton. Following his exit, former Grand Slam champion Adriano Panatta heavily criticized him, saying the three-time Grand Slam finalist throws tantrums like a child.

I’ve reached a point where, on principle, I don’t even watch Zverev anymore. I watched the highlights of the match. Honestly, I’ve reached a point where, on principle, I don’t even watch Zverev anymore, because I get bored. I already know what he’s going to do.

Adriano Panatta said during the La Telefonata podcast

Zverev easily clinched the first set against Darderi, but the Italian ace saved four match points in the following set before handing him the bagel to clinch a 1-6, 7-6(10), 6-0 win. The win helped the 24-year-old tie the head-to-head record over Zverev to 1-1.

Anyone can win the first set and then let the second slip away, even with multiple match points. That happens. But what’s more worrying is that he simply didn’t play the third set. He sometimes reacts like a child.

Adriano Panatta added

Prior to this match, Zverev had met Darderi in the third round of last year’s Italian Open. After knocking out the two-time Italian Open champion, Darderi has scheduled his semifinal match against Casper Ruud, who beat Karen Khachanov in the previous round. Darderi will be playing a Masters 1000 semifinal for the first time in her career.

Alexander Zverev believes he can beat Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros

Nobody can beat Jannik Sinner, whose name is not Carlos Alcaraz– that’s what a journalist told Alexander Zverev at the press conference after his Italian Open exit. But Zverev said he has to believe he can defeat Sinner rather than admit defeat beforehand.

Yeah, maybe this is a bit of a blessing in a bad moment for me. I can rest and recharge, and be 100% ready for the French Open. I can take a couple of days off. I have almost two weeks now till my next match, so yeah. I hope I can use that time… Yeah, that’s been the case. I do have to believe that I’m capable of beating him. I do have to believe it, otherwise we can just give him the trophy without playing the tournament.

It was Zverev whom Sinner defeated in the Madrid Open final to win his third clay-court title. The win improved his head-to-head record to 10-4. It was, in fact, his ninth consecutive victory over the World No.3. Sinner is chasing history in his home tournament. If he wins, he will become the second man, after Novak Djokovic, to complete the Career Golden Masters.

Sinner is also chasing his sixth consecutive Masters 1000 title. In the quarterfinals, he breezed past Andrey Rublev to reach his fifth consecutive semifinal this year. The only time Sinner lost matches this year is in the semifinals of the Australian Open and the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open.

Since then, he lifted titles at the Indian Wells Masters, Miami Open, Monte-Carlo Masters, and Madrid Open. It was in the 2025 Shanghai Masters third round that Sinner last lost a Masters 1000 match (handed the walkover to Tallon Griekspoor). Sinner is also on a 32-match winning streak in Masters 1000, breaking Djokovic’s all-time record. At Roland Garros, he will be aiming to complete the Career Grand Slam.

Also read: Rafael Nadal Shuts Down Real Madrid Presidency Rumors: “These Reports Are Not True”