"No wonder players are boycotting press conferences" - Tennis fans appalled by 'Lion' question posed to Alexander Zverev at French Open

Several tennis fans are appalled at the 'Lion' question posed to Alexander Zverev at the 2023 French Open press conference.

On Monday, June 5, Zverev secured his spot in the Roland Garros quarterfinals by defeating Grigor Dimitrov 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The German fought back from a break down in the second set and surrendered a 3-0 lead in the third before eventually wrapping up the match.

During the post-match press conference, a journalist posed an unusual question to Alexander Zverev. The journalist congratulated Zverev on his impressive victory over Dimitrov and proceeded to ask if his fans referred to him as 'the lion' due to his confidence, athleticism, good looks, or simply because he sleeps a lot.

Zverev was perplexed by the question posed to him, but he maintained his professionalism while answering. The German admitted that he was unsure how to respond and explained that fans must have dubbed him 'a lion' due to his distinctive haircut and occasional outbursts during matches.

Tennis fans took to social media to express their bewilderment at the line of questioning directed towards Zverev. One fan wrote that it is because of these types of questions that players are "boycotting" the French Open press conferences.

Another fan questioned why the press conferences at Grand Slam events frequently included the most cringe-worthy questions.

Alexander Zverev set to take on Tomas Etcheverry in French Open QF

Alexander Zverev will face Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the quarterfinals of the French Open on Wednesday, June 7. This match will be the first time the two players meet on tour.

Etcheverry secured his spot in the last eight by defeating Yoshihito Nishioka 7-6(8), 6-0, 6-1, marking his first-ever appearance in a Grand Slam quarterfinal.

If Zverev manages to defeat Etcheverry, he will face the winner of the highly-anticipated match between Holger Rune and Casper Ruud.

About the author

Since joining Sportskeeda as a journalist in January 2023, Sreeja has remained steadfast in delivering thorough coverage of the tennis world. Her bachelor's degree in English has proven invaluable, with over 1000 articles already under her belt for the company.

While writing, Sreeja prioritizes reliability by sourcing information from credible outlets and presenting various perspectives to her readers. She regularly keeps track of updates by closely monitoring the official websites of WTA and ATP, as well as the social media profiles of prominent journalists.

Sreeja draws inspiration from Rafael Nadal's unparalleled dominance on clay courts and Steffi Graf's remarkable career trajectory, while also holding Novak Djokovic in high esteem. Her passion for tennis reaches its peak during the Australian Open and the French Open, particularly relishing the clay court matches.

When she is not collecting information about tennis, she fills her time with reading and playing darts while also keeping her finger on the pulse of pop culture.

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