Alexander Zverev is tired of players going to the towel out of superstition rather than sweat and disagrees with Stefanos Tsitsipas on ball kids retrieving towels.
Asked about the towel rack used at this week's NextGen Finals in Milan, Zverev told the media at the O2 Arena in London "I'm probably the wrong person to ask."
More: Tsitsipas Says No To Towel Rack, Coaching
The Washington, DC champion said he supports the use of the towel rack and disagrees with Tsitsipas, who says ball kids should be retrieving towels.
"Maybe need to ask the Next Gen guys. I mean (Frances) Tiafoe takes the towel after every point and (Stefanos) Tsitsipas takes the towel after an ace or double fault," Zverev told the media in London ahead of the ATP Finals. "I heard Tsitsipas say it's the ball boys' job but I think the ball boys' job is to give you the balls."
Earlier this week, Tsitsipas told Sport 360 the towel rack used at the NextGen Finals in Milan was a distraction that gave him another mental hurdle to face on court.
"One thing I didn't like that much was the towel thing," Tsitsipas told Sport 360. "I always had to run for the towel. I always had it in my mind when I was playing. So the rest was pretty okay.
"I think having the towels whenever you need it, it's very helpful. It's one thing less that you have to think about. So I believe to be playing your best game you don't have to think about whether you're going to take your towel now or later, you just call the ball kid. I think it's the ball kids job [supply] balls and towels for the players."
Zverev said some players use the towel out of superstition and suggests a towel rack would limit unnecessary towel use.
"I think it would prevent players from taking the towel after every double fault, mis-hit return because sometimes it gets a little ridiculous in my eyes," Zverev said. "Maybe players would then only use [the towel] when they are really sweating. For me [towel use] it's more of a superstition than something which has an actual use."
Photo credit: Christopher Levy