With tears in his eyes, Alexander Zverev judged himself harshly.
He described his performance at the tournament in Munich as "bottomless".
"I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for the spectators, I'm sorry for the tournament," he began the press conference after his disappointing knockout round against Danish teenager Holger Rune on Wednesday.
The German Olympic champion had no chance with a clear 3:6, 2:6.
He described the match as "the worst" in recent years.
Hamburg alone was to blame for the severe setback on the way to his big goal number 1.
"It's not my fitness trainer's fault.
It's not my physio's fault.
If you find an excuse now, you're not the smartest person in the world," said Zverev dejectedly.
The Munich-Triple mission failed before it really got started.
Zverev apologetically waved to the audience as he walked from Center Court.
search for the shape
After a titleless start to the season, the Davis Cup player traveled to the Bavarian capital with great ambitions.
Instead of his third winning car, there was the next disappointment.
“I was incredibly nervous before the match today.
For the first time in Germany in front of an audience in years, ”reported Zverev.
He still has about a month to find his form before the start of the French Open.
In Munich, Zverev played unusually incorrectly from the start and immediately gave up his first service game.
"I played without a forehand today.
I would have lost to everyone in the main draw today," said Zverev, helpless and devastated.
Rune's stop balls in particular caused the 1.98 meter tall German considerable problems.
Zverev quarreled loudly on the almost fully occupied center court in Munich and cursed in the direction of his box.
Confused and unimaginative
Those of the many German fans on the Aumeisterweg who had hoped for a turnaround in the second set were quickly disappointed.
A forehand in the net, a backhand in the off and a volley somewhere in the advertising board - Zverev seemed completely unsure and unimaginative at one of his favorite tournaments.
After a little more than 90 minutes, the number 70 from Denmark used the second match point.
It was Rune's first career win against a top ten player.
"I really did my best, even if you didn't see it on the pitch," explained Zverev.
Daniel Altmaier from Kempen had previously lost his round of 16 game.
The 23-year-old lost 6-2, 6-4 to seventh-placed Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.
Oscar Otte is the last German in the traditional Munich tournament.
The top favorite for the title is now the Norwegian Casper Ruud.