"A while ago, I would have smashed a racket after the first set," Zverev's words after his victory against Popyrin
Winner after a tough battle against Popyrin (6-7, 6-4, 6-3), Zverev secured his spot in his 21st Masters 1000 semifinal. Speaking in the press area, the German emphasized the changes that helped him overcome the one-set deficit.
"A while ago, I would have smashed a racket after the first set, but I didn’t, and it’s going to stay that way. I’ve embraced being a role model in tennis. Becoming a father changed me. I want to set a good example and be remembered for my tennis and the good things I do off the court, like with my foundation, not for my outbursts of anger.
In a way, Federer was an inspiration for making this change. Seeing how, as a young man, he lost his temper and then became the epitome of perfection motivated me to make this decision."
For a spot in the final, he will face Russian Khachanov, whom he has beaten in their last three meetings, including their most recent one in Cincinnati last year (6-3, 6-2).
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