Alexander Zverev's big steps and an amazing goal
During a short visit to his native city of Hamburg, Alexander Zverev surprisingly took a look at the US Open. And he spoke again on the subject of diabetes.
by SID
last edit: Aug 11, 2022, 04:45 pm
Alexander Zverev posed smiling in front of a picturesque Alster panorama, announced amazing progress in his rehabilitation and after the short flying visit to his native city of Hamburg, he quickly got back on the plane to Monte Carlo. In the afternoon, training was finally on the agenda for the Olympic champion in his adopted home of Monaco - Zverev surprisingly took a look at the US Open again around two months after his serious ankle injury.
"Of course I'll still try to do it," said the world number two: "The doctors said I'll be on the tennis court for the first time after four months. I have two." Every day things are progressing well and he can put more and more strain on his body.
Maximum load for preloaded joint
However, he can only say in about ten days whether it will really be enough for the highlight in New York from August 29th and Zverev is aware that it will be "very, very close". After all, the hard court event is in three-set winning mode - it would be a maximum load for his now pre-loaded joint.
Zverev twisted his ankle in the semifinals of the French Open in a duel with eventual tournament winner Rafael Nadal on June 3rd. Three ligaments were torn and four others were damaged. In July he announced that he would not compete again until he had reached his top level again.
Strong opponents for a strong team
At the latest in the Davis Cup, the real reason for Zverev's visit to the Hanseatic city on Thursday, the German number one wants to get involved again in September. "It will be something very special and a highlight for me and the other boys," said the top star: "I hope we can fill the stadium." For the first time in Hamburg, the game will be played on hard court, the opponents are tough.
The German team will play against France (14th), Belgium (16th) and Australia (18th) for a place in the finals. "They are strong opponents, but we also have a strong team," said Zverev, who also used his compulsory sporting break to send a signal away from the center courts.
Great success despite type 1 diabetes
He announced the establishment of his foundation to support those affected by the metabolic disease diabetes. Zverev wants to be a role model that you can achieve anything despite an illness. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was four years old. "Sometimes I go to the toilet and have to inject myself, sometimes I have to take the gels," said Zverev: "I'm lucky that I have the whole thing under control." During the games he has a device in his pocket that shows his sugar level. The ATP and the ITF are aware of this, he does not use an insulin pump.
"I have the gold medal from the Olympics, I'm number two in the world, I've won the World Championships twice and I've had a few successes behind my back," he said in Hamburg. And he may soon be fighting for his first Grand Slam title again in New York.