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Published 17:09 IST, November 14th 2019

ATP Finals: Alexander Zverev responds after being reportedly caught on phone during match

ATP Finals: The World No.7 came under fire after footage of him touching something in his kit bag during his match against Stefanos Tsitsipas emerged in news.

Reported by: Akhil Nambiar
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Alexander Zverev, who has been accused of using his cellphone during the ATP finals, has denied the allegations. The World No 7 came under scanner after footage revealed that he was touching something in his kit bag during his match against Stefanos Tsitsipas. The rules of the game prohibit players from accessing electronic devices on the court. The 22-year-old, who lost to Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-2 at London’s O2 arena, said he did not know what it was people saw, but it was not a cellphone. Questioned by the media during a post-match interview regarding what was in his bag, he said that it could probably be a water bottle. He added that his phone was in the locker room, which is where he always leaves it.

Also Read | Tsitsipas Reaches ATP Finals Semis After Nadal Comeback

A clip of the incident shows Zverev sitting down during a changeover, conceding double break to Tsitsipas, and reaching to his bag. He appears to be scrolling with his fingers, all the time looking into the bag. However, all of it is just conjecture as the clip does not clearly show what was it that Zverev was handling in the bag. ATP and ITF rules are very strict about electronics on the court rule, and if found guilty, Zverev could be fined.

Also Read | Alexander Zverev Registers First Win Over Rafael Nadal At ATP Finals

Despite his loss on Wednesday, Zverev still has a chance to reach the final four if he beats Daniil Medvedev. Meanwhile, Zverev has been confirmed to take part in next year’s Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart. The German, who debuted in Stuttgart in 2014, has not been able to conquer the grasscourt completely. Since his debut in 2014, Zverev has continuously lost matches on the Stuttgart court. With his next year’s performance, the German is looking to change that.

Also Read | Roger Federer Vs Novak Djokovic: Top 3 Knockout Matches Of All Time Between The Legends

Boris Becker as coach

Zverev said that his goal was to become better and eventually become World No 1. Reports suggest that the World No 7 is looking to rope in Boris Becker as a coach to achieve his goal. The ambitious youngster said that he wants to be No 1 when Roger Federer, Rafal Nadal, and Novak Djokovic were still around and part of the game.

Also Read | Dominic Thiem's Head-to-head Record Vs His Probable Semi-final Opponents At The ATP Finals

11:49 IST, November 14th 2019