"We are constantly in a spotlight, players from 20, 30 years ago don't understand" - Alexander Zverev after 2R win at French Open

Following his French Open second-round win over Sebastian Baez on Wednesday, Alexander Zverev noted how players of his generation are constantly under the spotlight, unlike those a few decades ago.

Zverev won only two of the opening 12 games in the match as he trailed 6-2, 4-0. He recouped one of the breaks but couldn't prevent Baez from taking a two-set lead. The German regrouped and played markedly better to drop only three games in the next two sets and force a fifth. In a competitive decider, the German had to save a match point on serve before sealing his place in the third round with a 2-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 7-5 victory.

In a press conference after his win, Zverev was asked about the spotlight the current generation of players is subjected to, thanks to the advent of social media. The German pointed out that things were a lot different two or three decades ago, where there wasn't always a camera on players.

"We are constantly in a spotlight. I think players from 20, 30 years ago don't understand because now every single little thing you do, there is a camera there or someone that can comment on it or there is someone that will write about it," Zverev said.

Zverev will take on American Brendon Nakashima for a place in the round of 16 at Roland Garros.

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Alexander Zverev reprises iron man role, wins 8th five-setter at Roland Garros

Alexander Zverev at the 2022 French Open - Day Four

Since his Roland Garros debut in 2016, Alexander Zverev has won 20 matches in the tournament. Remarkably, nearly half of his victories - eight - have come in five sets. With his win over Baez on Thursday, the 25-year-old improved to an impressive 8-1 in five-set matches at the tournament.

Zverev's only fifth-set defeat at Roland Garros came against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals last year. He recovered a two-set deficit only to fall short in the fifth. Earlier in the tournament, Zverev had beaten Oscar Otte from two sets down.

The German won three consecutive five-setters at 2018 Roland Garros, becoming the eighth player to do so at the claycourt Major.