Alexander Zverev calls Daniil Medvedev ‘one of the most unfair players in the world’ after Monte Carlo loss

Alexander Zverev says Daniil Medvedev is “one of the most unfair players in the world” after losing to the world No. 5 in Monte Carlo on Thursday night.

At 5-4 down in the second set, Medvedev removed one of the net poles which drew a smile from Zverev, but the umpire decided not to give him a warning as the pole did not break.

It was after that moment that Medvedev turned the match around, winning the next three games before taking the third set after a lengthy tie-break.

In the decider, Medvedev ran off the court at 4-3 to take a toilet break when both players were meant to only switch sides.

Zverev says he was “extremely disappointed” with Medvedev’s on-court behaviour after the match which lasted three hours and five minutes.

“He is one of the most unfair players in the world,” he told Sky Germany.

“I take fair play and sportsmanship very serious. He does not. He takes a toilet break when it’s not possible anymore.

“There are 1000 situations in which he feels that I start to play better and in which he tries to do something every time. I’m extremely disappointed from him as an athlete.”

Although he was unhappy with Medvedev, Zverev believes he should have remained focused on his own game and not get “distracted” by what was happening on the other side of the net.

“Of course you argue that is not good form from me that I get distracted,” he continued.

“This should not happen to me and it’s totally my fault and it really was bad from my side. But still I feel fair play should always be part of sports.”

Medvedev also shushed the crowd in the 11th game of the second set.

Explaining his gesture after the match, the 27-year-old said: “The thing is I saw Novak’s [Djokovic] match today and I was just talking to the referee about the mark. Some people start booing and I was like ‘I’m not going to play until you shut up’.

“After the Australian Open final, if something happens I don’t like, I’m like, ‘OK guys, you can do whatever but I’m not going to play until you stop. As long as there is sound I’m not going to play.’”

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