"I don't want to be negative anymore" - Zverev tired of Tsitsipas talk but feels ATP should make rule changes

With all the recent controversy surrounding Stefanos Tsitsipas and his bathroom visits, Alexander Zverev has decided to put a rest to the issue as he is not interested in criticizing his fellow tennis professional.

The German initially accused Tsitsipas of taking his phone with him to the bathroom during an extended bathroom break during their semifinal bout in Cincinnati two weeks ago. This was followed by the Greek star taking two more lengthy bathroom breaks during his US Open first and second round matches, against Andy Murray and Adrian Mannarino respectively. Of note is that Tsitsipas took these eight-minutes breaks right after his opponent had won a set and was building momentum, who is considered bad sportsmanship by many.

However, Zverev seems to be over the issue, as the World No.4 would rather put all that behind him.

“I’m not going to talk bad about anybody anymore, because I have been talked bad about for a very long time and it’s not a great feeling. I don’t want to do that,” stated Zverev.

“I think there needs to be some adjustments in some rules by the ATP. But it does get frustrating for you if you just won a set and then somebody walks off for 10-plus minutes or whatever.

“I don’t want to be negative anymore, and I have said everything I said. I said it in my first-round press conference. I don’t know what else to add."

The 24-year old did acknowledge that these tactics could disrupt an opponent's rhythm, pointing out the effects a lengthy delay has on a player.

“I did see that he went off again yesterday, which I found – yeah, I think you guys can’t imagine how we as players we find that, and then he wins the next set 6-0, because I think Mannarino’s back got a little bit stiff or something," Zverev said in reference to Tsitsipas' extended break against Mannarino.

“And that’s happened, because as Andy also said, in six minutes, seven minutes in professional sports, in a high-intense match, your body does cool down. It’s very difficult to come back and play on the same level as you did if you’re just sitting down for six, seven, eight, nine minutes, or ten-plus minutes. So it’s from a physical standpoint sometimes it’s not that easy.”