Zverev gives emotional runner-up speech in New York

It was a tough few hours for Alexander Zverev on Sunday night. After being up two sets to love in the US Open final against Dominic Thiem, the German was unable to capitalize on the lead and suffered a wild defeat, 2-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (6).

After such an emotional and dramatic final, it's only fair that Zverev's speech would be emotional, too. The No. 5 seed gave thanks to his team and congratulated his friend Thiem.

"I want to congratulate Dominic on the first of many Grand Slam titles," the 23-year-old said. "This is not the only one, it was a tough battle. I wish you would have missed a little more so I could hold that trophy up, but here I am giving the runner-up speech."

The emotions really came out when Zverev mentioned his parents, Alexander and Irina, who both tested positive for COVID-19 before he arrived and couldn't support their son in New York.

"I want to thank my parents...they are always with me," he said. "Unfortunately, my dad and my mother got tested positive before the tournament and couldn't come. But they are always with me...man, this is tough."

His brother Mischa had only words of support for his baby brother:

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We will get there together. #ComeBackStronger https://t.co/L4b5tbk4OG — Alexander Zverev (@AlexZverev) September 14, 2020

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Zverev's parents are still very involved in their sons' tennis careers, even coaching them from a young age.

"They're fine," Zverev told reporters. "They're actually negative already. That's the reason they didn't come here. Losing 7-6 in the fifth after being two sets to love and a break up is not easy. At the speech, I got emotional. I couldn't put two words together. I don't actually remember what I said."

Neither Thiem or Zverev will play the Rome ATP Masters 1000 this week.