Ex-ATP Player Calls Out Fans for Criticizing Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas After $1.5 Million Six Kings Slam Win Despite Defeats

Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas did not win a set when they played their debut match at the Six Kings Slam. Zverev, for the seventh consecutive time, lost to Taylor Fritz, while Tsitsipas was no match for Jannik Sinner.

Despite their defeats, they pocketed $1.5 million each, given that it’s a participation fee. Now this has garnered criticism, all due to the fact that they won millions of dollars without doing almost nothing.

Both players are dealing with a great deal of form issues and have suffered ups and downs this season. The German lost to Jannik Sinner and Fritz in the Australian Open and Stuttgart Open finals, but was successful at the BMW Open. Tsitsipas also has one title to his name this year- the Dubai Open.

Amidst criticism, former player Sam Querrey has come to their support, saying the two Grand Slam finalists deserve to participate in the lucrative Six Kings Slam. He said during the Nothing Major podcast:

It’s like no, good for Zverev and Tsitsipas. It’s not like they randomly drew chips out of a hat for the Six Kings Slam. These guys have put together a phenomenal body of work over the course of the last 10 years to deserve that spot to play. It does not matter that they lost in under an hour. It does not. They are phenomenal players who deserve to be there and deserve that paycheck.

The second edition of the Riyadh exhibition ended in favor of Sinner, who beat Carlos Alcaraz for the second consecutive time in the final. Because of the win, the six-time Grand Slam champion took home $6 million.

Zverev is in Vienna, bidding to win his second title in the tournament (won it in 2021 by beating Frances Tiafoe). The second seed went past Jacob Fearnley in three sets to schedule the second-round clash with Matteo Arnaldi. Tsitsipas is also scheduled to lock horns with Nuno Borges in the first round in Vienna, but he withdrew from the tournament, citing back problems.

This is the third consecutive tournament that the Greek ace will be skipping, following the China Open and the Shanghai Masters. Because he played the Six Kings Slam despite being injured, he was criticized by fans on social media. He is next scheduled to play the Paris Masters.

Alexander Zverev slams Boris Becker for his comments

Boris Becker, during his Becker Petkovic podcast, made some comments about Alexander Zverev, which did not go down well with the latter. The six-time Grand Slam singles champion said nothing is happening in Zverev’s box as he is only taking advice from his father, Alexander Zverev Sr., and brother Mischa Zverev, and things are not going well there.

I think he’s relatively unconcerned about me, to be honest. I think he’s looking for a bit of attention, and he gets it through me. Unfortunately, that’s the case. But I don’t care anymore. Everything will work out, and I’m full of confidence that I’ll find my form again and play good tennis again.

Alexander Zverev told BILD

Prior to the Six Kings Slam, the three-time Grand Slam finalist was in Shanghai, where he failed to make a deep run as eventual runner-up Arthur Rinderknech knocked him out in three sets in the third round. The last time the 28-year-old reached a semifinal was at the Cincinnati Masters, losing that match in straight sets against eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz.

After Vienna, Zverev will be in Paris, where he will be bidding to defend his title. Sascha defeated Ugo Humbert to clinch the last Masters 1000 of the season last year.

Also read: “What are You Referring to?” Andy Roddick Urges Clarity from Novak Djokovic on ‘Monopoly’ Comment

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