After Wimbledon exit: Alexander Zverev has mental problems

"Generally speaking, I feel pretty alone in my life, which is not a nice feeling," said Alexander Zverev in the press conference after his surprising first-round exit at Wimbledon.

Germany's top tennis pro traveled to London for the grass-court classic with high ambitions, but was defeated in the first round by Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech 6:7 (3:7), 7:6 (10:8), 3:6, 7:6 (7:5), 4:6. The match was suspended on Monday evening and resumed 17 hours later. After 4:40 hours of play, Rinderknech converted the match point. Afterward, Zverev spoke openly about his mental problems.

Zverev: "Fundamental feeling in my life"

He admitted that he simply lacked motivation at key moments, describing a scene from his match against Rinderknech. "It's this: At 5:5 in the tiebreak. Okay, I'm serving at 136 [kilometers per hour]. If I do that, it's great. If I double fault, that's okay too. I've never felt that before."

It's not just about the sport. "It's not a feeling on the tennis court, it's a fundamental feeling in my life," he said in a low voice. "It's difficult for me to find joy outside of the tennis court."

When asked, Zverev said he could also consider therapy to alleviate his mental problems. "Yes, maybe," he said. "Maybe I'll need it for the first time in my life." He's had "mental problems since the Australian Open. I'm trying and trying to find a way out of this hole, but I keep fighting my way back in!"

Zverev had never spoken publicly about mental problems before – and apparently not internally either. "After defeats, you feel different things," said brother and manager Mischa Zverev, who was surprised by his brother's statements: "There were no signs of anything major."

Tennis break and time for daughter Mayla

After a good preparation at the grass-court tournament in Halle, Westphalia, where he reached the semifinals, Zverev actually had his chances of winning Wimbledon. The Tokyo Olympic champion and current world number three is considered one of the greatest talents of his generation , but at 28, he is still waiting for his first Grand Slam victory .

Zverev announced a tennis break until the Masters 1000 tournament in Toronto in four weeks. He said he now has to focus on himself. One person he's counting on in the coming period is his daughter Mayla.

"My daughter generally makes me happy, that's the version that makes me happiest in my life. But she's four. Normally it has to be the other way around, I have to give her energy, I have to make her happy, and not the other way around," Zverev said. "That can't be it."

Difficult start for German professionals, Gauff also failed

Overall, the German tennis pros' opening match at Wimbledon was not a successful one. Before Zverev's defeat, Tatjana Maria was eliminated in the midday heat, losing 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 1-6 to American Katie Volynets. She had still managed to win the grass-court tournament in Queens the previous week.

In addition, Ella Seidel twisted her ankle at 3:6, 2:3 against the Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro and had to give up.

And for US tennis star Coco Gauff, the Wimbledon tournament also ended early. Three weeks after her triumph at the French Open, Gauff lost to Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska 6:7 (3:7), 1:6 and was eliminated in the first round.