Zverev is ambivalent about the added media attention, but he is certain it will not change him. He does not care to stoke any flames of rivalry with Thiem or the 22-year-old Nick Kyrgios.

“You can’t change who you are,” he said. “So I try to stay myself.”

Staying himself can mean keeping to himself — playing chess or FIFA, or watching “Prison Break,” or playing with Lovik at the hotel. He is happy to let all eyes in the coming weeks remain on Federer, the 36-year-old great who has won two Grand Slam titles this year.

“Maybe I can quietly go through the tournament,” Zverev said. “But at same time, everyone wants attention, wants to be part of the big scene.”

This year’s United States Open may be his big scene, his tournament to seize.

“I feel different going into this Slam than I felt ever before,” he said. “I feel like I’m one of the ones who can compete for this Slam, actually. Even though I won Rome, I didn’t feel this way going into Paris. I feel I can beat anyone.”

On the practice court last week, he played sets with the 19th-ranked Tomas Berdych. At the end of their last changeover, Zverev’s face changed from boyish and playful to steely. It is his game face, the one he got from Irina. The expectations, the frenzied schedule and the extra attention were put away. Only Zverev was controlling the point.