Alexander Zverev On New Davis Cup Format: I Don’t Want To Play Tennis In Late November

It doesn’t sound like Alexander Zverev is a big fan of the new Davis Cup format, which features 16 teams playing a round-robin week-long competition in late November.

And Zverev says he doesn’t want to be playing tennis that late in the year, not even for Germany.

“I will not play Davis Cup in November,” Zverev said Tuesday in Shanghai.

“Because in November I do not want to play tennis anymore. I think all the top guys will say the same thing,” he said. “We have one-and-a-half months off in our season, and that’s end of November and that’s December. Making a tournament end of November, which is, you know, ten days and playing and competing, it’s crazy. I mean, by the end of the year, we are all tired.

“For us as top players we had discussions, we had talks with ATP how to make the season shorter and not longer. No, it’s not happening, and I guarantee you I will not be the only one.”

Zverev’s complaint of the season’s length is one often heard from the older generation, but at just 21 he’s already lobbying for change. And perhaps he will lead other NextGen players to express similar concerns.

Of course the ATP Finals is also in November, but he didn’t mention that event. And he’ll still have to play Davis Cup at least in February qualifications if he wants to participate in the Olympics.

Today, Zverev advanced to the quarterfinals in Shanghai with an easy win over fellow-youngster Alex De Minaur. He’ll face Kyle Edmund tomorrow.