Alexander Zverev hits out at Daniil Medvedev over “unfair” toilet break in Monte Carlo

WATCH: Medvedev twice rallied from match point down to defeat Zverev in just over three hours at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

Alexander Zverev proved more aggressive in post-match media than on either of his two match points against Daniil Medvedev following his defeat to the former world No. 1 at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, hitting out at the Russian over an alleged breach in fair play due to a changeover-length bathroom break.

"He is one of the most unfair players in the world,” Zverev said after a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7) loss, his second to Medvedev in three Masters 1000 events. “I take fair play and sportsmanship very serious. He does not.”

The German, currently working his way back from a major ankle injury incurred during the 2022 Roland Garros semifinals, pointed to Medvedev’s decision to leave the court after winning the seventh game of the deciding set for a bathroom break, but suggested—without evidence—a history of questionable behavior.

“There are 1000 situations in which he feels that I start to play better and in which he tries to do something every time. I’m extremely disappointed from him as an athlete.”

Medvedev indeed left the court after holding at love, but only after getting permission from umpire Carlos Bernades, and returned to court within seconds of Bernades calling “time.”

Zverev, who has in the past accused Stefanos Tsitsipas of getting illegal coaching during bathroom breaks, nonetheless went on to win the next two games and served for the match a second time. He even held two match points in the subsequent final-set tiebreaker, but Medvedev, notorious for his disdain for clay courts, clinched the victory in just over three hours.

“Of course, you can argue that it’s not good from me that I get distracted,” Zverev conceded. “This should not happen to me and it’s totally my fault and it really was bad from my side. But still I feel fair play should always be part of sports.”

The 25-year-old, who has faced allegations of domestic violence from ex-girlfriend Olya Sharypova, has had his own run-ups against the spirit of fair play, menacing an umpire during an doubles outburst at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC in Acapulco last spring, leading to his ejection from the singles event.

Medvedev, who wrote “Cold” on the camera lens after the tense handshake, was far more succinct in his summation of the match on court.

“I mean, he served two times for the match,” said the No. 3 seed. “So, he probably should have done better.

“I tried to watch a lot of tennis before playing this tournament and everything I saw was that you can come back any moment. The serve doesn’t count as much. So, as soon as someone gets a little bit tight, the match can turn around in one second. That’s what I managed to do in this crazy, crazy match.”

Medvedev appeared to mock the incident the following afternoon in defeat to Holger Rune, imitating Zverev's handshake and calling Rune "unfair" at the net in jest, and had plenty to say about the incident in his post-match press conference.

Ending with an apropos quote from legendary entertainer Naomi Smalls: “Life’s not fair.”

*quotes translated into English by Jannik Schneider.