Alexander Zverev Ridicules Idea of Throwing Dollars to Solve Masters 1000 Withdrawal Problem: “Novak Djokovic Has 400 Million in His Bank Account”

Throwing dollars at the top players cannot solve the problem of tournament withdrawals. All they are asking for is to make the calendar shorter so that they get enough time between tournaments to recharge their batteries.

But instead, the ATP expanded the calendar last year by changing both the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Masters to two-week events. Jannik Sinner did not compete in Canada last year and skipped it this year as well.

Carlos Alcaraz skipped it this year, but his withdrawal was expected because he was nursing a wrist injury. Novak Djokovic also ended up withdrawing from it. Nole, in fact, last played in this event back in 2018.

But Alexander Zverev is competing, though he too thought of skipping the tournament. And at the pre-tournament press conference, he was asked whether offering bonuses to those competing and punishing those who don’t, is the solution for the withdrawal problem. Zverev simply ridiculed the idea.

It’s not rocket science. We get bonuses at the end of the year if we play all nine Masters. You think Novak will care if he gets a bigger bonus? I think the guy has — if I would have to guess, the guy is north of 400 million (dollars) in his bank account. I’m not sure he would care about 50,000 more or less.

Djokovic, at this stage of his career, is prioritizing only the Majors. The only two tournaments he played this season apart from the first three Majors are the Indian Wells Masters and the Italian Open. Nole, however, has confirmed his participation for the Cincinnati Masters.

I don’t think he cares about his ranking either. I honestly don’t think so. If you’re forcing us to be away for two and a half, three weeks during Grand Slams and the same then goes for Masters events, you can’t force us to play. Sorry, that’s nonsense.

Alexander Zverev added

Sinner’s decision to skip the tournament was questioned a lot because he had the chance to complete the Golden Masters, having won the first five Masters 1000s of the season. His win in Rome made him the second man after Djokovic to reach the Career Golden Masters.

Alexander Zverev on his Wimbledon final against Jannik Sinner

Before arriving in Montreal, Alexander Zverev played his career’s first Wimbledon final. He lost that match to defending champion Jannik Sinner, which, in fact, was his 10th consecutive defeat at the hands of the Italian ace.

Zverev, who trails 4-11 in the head-to-head matchups versus the five-time Grand Slam champion, however, ended his Grand Slam drought at the French Open with a five-set win over Flavio Cobolli.

I think the period of the two months that I had was fantastic. Of course, I wanted to win Wimbledon, I wanted to win the final, but at the end of the day I played an opponent who also knows how to play in these moments, and he played a phenomenal match, and it was a great match, which could have gone a bit longer. I feel like it could have gone to the fifth set.

Alexander Zverev said at the pre-tournament press conference in Montreal

Zverev will lock horns with Lorenzo Sonego or Tallon Griekspoor in the first round. The World No.2 is a former champion in the tournament, winning it in 2017. Last year, he suffered a semifinal exit. Ben Shelton will enter the tournament as the defending champion.

So far this season, Zverev has played three finals. Before the French Open and Wimbledon finals, he played the title clash of the Madrid Open, which he lost to Sinner.

Also read: Rennae Stubbs Explains Why Victoria Mboko Can Lift Grand Slam Trophy but Alexandra Eala ‘Will Never Win’ One