"Me being German and not really proud of that history, not a great thing to do": Zverev clarifies why he stopped to get fan kicked out at US Open
ATPTuesday, 05 September 2023 at 23:45
Germany’s tennis star Alexander Zverev has stated that he is
not proud of the country’s past after a fan was kicked out of the arena of the
US Open for signing a Nazi anthem.
The 26-year-old is currently taking part in the fourth and
final Grand Slam of the year where he booked his place in the quarterfinal after
defeating Italy’s Jannik Sinner in a five-set thriller with a score of 6-4,
3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 on Monday.
During the match, Zverev stopped the play and complained to the
chair umpire about a particular fan who was kicked out of the arena.
The world number 12, while talking about the incident after
the match, revealed that the fan sang the anthem of Hitler and he felt
obliged to inform the chair umpire because he is not proud of the country’s
past.
"He started singing the anthem of Hitler that was back
in the day,” he said. “It was 'Deutschland über alles' and it was a bit too
much. I think he was getting involved in the match for a long time, though. I
don't mind it. I love when fans are loud. I love when fans are emotional.
“But I think me being German and not really proud of that
history, it's not really a great thing to do, and I think him sitting in one of
the front rows, I think a lot of people heard it. So if I just don't react, I
think it's bad from my side.”
That result now sets up a mouthwatering clash in the quarterfinal
of the US Open between the current world number one Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and Zverev.
Both players have faced off five times in professional tennis
where surprisingly, Zverev has a superior record with three wins to his name.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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AceOfBase12-09-2026
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