Why Alexander Zverev was once booed by the crowd during an interview after beating Roger Federer at the ATP Finals

Alexander Zverev has a remarkable record at the ATP Finals, clinching the prestigious year-end tournament twice. His most recent victory came in 2021, after defeating both Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev. His first win was in 2018 at London, where he had to overcome two top players, including Roger Federer, to secure the title.

The highlight of Zverev's semifinal clash with Federer was a stunning tiebreak in the second set. Federer, serving at 4-3, started strong, but Zverev, receiving the serve, had to stop the rally when a ball boy inadvertently dropped a ball and went to retrieve it. Per the rules, Zverev could play a let, but the pro-Federer crowd at London's O2 Arena booed him when he tried to explain the situation in his post-match interview.

During his post-match press conference, Zverev expressed his disappointment over the crowd's reaction, stating that they might not have fully understood the rules. He apologized to Federer, who responded by saying, "You don't even have to apologise. This is all part of the game."

Federer also acknowledged the impact of the incident, saying that it affected him as he was "aced" in the tiebreak. He reflected on his own hesitation in stopping the rally, admitting that it was a difficult call to make, especially when he couldn't be certain if it was an umpire's decision. Despite the controversy, Federer returned to the ATP Finals the following year but lost in the semifinals to Stefanos Tsitsipas.