Zverev credits brother for success against lefties; Djokovic wins, boycotts Nine post-match interview

World number two Alex Zverev credited his brother Mischa for his mastery of left-handers after beating a 26th in succession in Frenchman Ugo Humbert to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday.

Zverev honed his game with left-handed Mischa, a former top-30 player who reached the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park in 2017.

“I don’t think it’s something that matches up well particularly against left-handed (players),” Zverev said of his game after his 6-1 2-6 6-3 6-2 win at John Cain Arena.

“I just think it’s based simply on the fact that I had an older brother who is left-handed, and I grew up with left-handers.

“Just practising with a left-handed player, knowing all the slices, the top spins that they do, which are maybe uncomfortable for some players, are maybe more comfortable for me simply because I’m used to it.

“I think that’s maybe the main reason.”

Twice a semi-finalist at Melbourne Park, German Zverev next faces American right-hander Tommy Paul, who breezed through a 6-1 6-1 6-1 win over Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

There are no other left-handers for Zverev to face on the way to the final, with Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz playing in the other quarter-final in the bottom half of the draw.

Reuters

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World number two Alex Zverev credited his brother Mischa for his mastery of left-handers after beating a 26th in succession in Frenchman Ugo Humbert to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals on Sunday.

Zverev honed his game with left-handed Mischa, a former top-30 player who reached the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park in 2017.

“I don’t think it’s something that matches up well particularly against left-handed (players),” Zverev said of his game after his 6-1 2-6 6-3 6-2 win at John Cain Arena.

“I just think it’s based simply on the fact that I had an older brother who is left-handed, and I grew up with left-handers.

“Just practising with a left-handed player, knowing all the slices, the top spins that they do, which are maybe uncomfortable for some players, are maybe more comfortable for me simply because I’m used to it.

“I think that’s maybe the main reason.”

Twice a semi-finalist at Melbourne Park, German Zverev next faces American right-hander Tommy Paul, who breezed through a 6-1 6-1 6-1 win over Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

There are no other left-handers for Zverev to face on the way to the final, with Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz playing in the other quarter-final in the bottom half of the draw.

Reuters

UPDATE: Novak Djokovic has posted a video on social media to fans explaining his actions tonight and asking Nine for an apology before his next match.

At the end of the video, he said he hopes for an apology before his next match.

“I have to stand by my decision and hold this stance until something is done,” Djokovic said in his video.

“That thing is done, so I leave it to Channel Nine and, hopefully, that situation will change for the next match.”

Novak Djokovic has elaborated on his decision to skip an on-court interview with Channel Nine, explaining his move was because of “insulting and offensive comments” made by a prominent member of the network.

“A couple of days ago a famous sports journalist who works for official broadcaster Channel Nine here in Australia made a mockery of Serbian fans, and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me,” Djokovic said.

“Since then he chose not to issue an official public apology. Neither did Channel Nine.

“A have nothing against Jim Courier, neither the Australian public. And it was a very awkward situation for me to face the court today.”

More to come.

UPDATED: Novak Djokovic told media tonight that he didn’t do the post game chat with broadcaster Nine due to a problem with the network.

When asked if the crowd said anything that angered him, Djokovic said no and that his issue was with Nine and comments made by a Nine anchor on the network about Serbian fans in past days.

“It’s nothing that stands out or is extraordinary, every match something different happens,” Djokovic said.

“It was for the Channel Nine situation.”

Nine is the owner of this masthead and has been contacted for comment.

More to come.