Alexander Zverev calls for next generation to stop bad behavior

NEW YORK—Alexander Zverev hasn't been impressed with the behavior of some of the younger guys at the US Open, saying he doesn't want his generation to get a poor reputation.

They've created waves during the tournament, with Daniil Medvedev inviting fans to boo him, Stefanos Tsitsipas clashing with the umpire and calling him a "weirdo," and Nick Kyrgios saying the ATP was "corrupt" before specifying that he was referring to "double standards" in officiating.

The 22-year-old German doesn't like it, saying, "There's a lot of young guys that do things on the tennis court that maybe is not the best thing to do. I don't want the next generation to be known for that."

And it's not just at this tournament they've crossed the line, as far as he's concerned.

Getty Images

"I think a lot of the times Tsitsipas... with changing his shoes 15 times in a tournament, going to the bathroom, during a set," said Zverev, speaking to press following a fourth-round defeat at the US Open.

"Let your tennis racquet talk for you kind of. You don't need to do things to distract the opponent, try to win that way.

"Medvedev obviously a little bit now. But he's winning. He's in the quarterfinals. He's playing Stan. It all doesn't matter if you're winning."

Still, the German would prefer his age group follow the lead of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

"But, yeah, I hope some of the NextGen or the young guys will kind of learn from the older guys like Roger and Rafa who have been unbelievable over their career, really let their racquet talk for them, not try to distract opponents, something like that," he said.

Tsitsipas exited in the first round of the US Open, while Kyrgios reached the third round.

Wake up every morning with Tennis Channel Live at the US Open, starting at 8 a.m. ET. For three hours leading up to the start of play, Tennis Channel's team will break down upcoming matches, review tournament storylines and focus on everything Flushing Meadows.

Tennis Channel's encore, all-night match coverage will begin every evening at 11 p.m. ET, with the exception of earlier starts on Saturday and Sunday of championship weekend.