Start into the unknown: Alexander Zverev before his comeback at United Cup
Alexander Zverev makes his “compulsory game” comeback after an injury break with the German team in the newly created United Cup in Australia on Thursday.
by SID
last edit:
Dec 28, 2022, 05:11 pm
The relaxed warm-up with the soccer world champion is followed by the long-awaited return to the tour. A few days ago, tennis Olympic champion Alexander Zverev posed on a padel court with Rio final hero Mario Götze, now the seriousness of athlete's life begins again. At the premiere of the United Cup, which starts in Australia on Thursday, the 25-year-old is making his “competitive game” comeback after almost seven months out through injury.
"I'm healthy," said Zverev, but it will still be a start into the unknown: "Of course the question is how well I'll play, I haven't played for seven months. That's why I'll need time to be 100 percent. That But I can only do it with tournaments and in competition." For the German team, the team tournament (December 29 to January 8) begins on Saturday in Sydney with the duel against the Czech Republic, Zverev meets 21-year-old Jiri Lehecka.
United Cup meets with satisfaction
"Finally men and women are competing together," said Zverev: "It will be exciting for the tennis world." For him, the newly created nations tournament, in which for the first time men and women fight together for victory in the venues of Sydney, Perth and Brisbane, is above all an important location determination. The "compulsory game" comeback shortly before the Australian Open (January 16 to 29) should be the starting signal for a new attempt at the long-awaited Grand Slam title.
The shape seems to fit after the long period of suffering. In his first appearances at show events, Zverev managed, among other things, to win a straight two-set win against the 21-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic. His foot is now "healthy enough" to fight for victories again at a high level, he said afterwards. So there is nothing left of the severe ankle injury that abruptly ended the most recent attempt to win a major title.
Zverev leads Germany
Zverev had twisted his ankle badly against Rafael Nadal in the semifinals of the French Open in summer and had torn his outer ligaments three times. A reunion with the Grand Slam record champion (22 titles) could now also come at the United Cup, but only after the group phase has been completed.
In addition to Zverev and Wimbledon quarter-finalist Jule Niemeier (Dortmund), Germany goes with Oscar Otte (Cologne), Daniel Altmaier (Kempen), Laura Siegemund (Metzingen) and Anna-Lena Friedsam (Neuwied). The double specialists Fabian Fallert (Bad Urach) and Julia Lohoff (Bielefeld) are also there - the team captain is Zverev's brother and confidante Mischa.
In the indirect successor to the Hopman Cup, there are initially two groups of three teams at three venues. Two women's and two men's singles as well as one mixed will be played in the preliminary round duels. The top four teams from the group stage advance to the final round in Sydney. A total of 18 national teams will compete in the hard court tournament for prize money of $15 million and 500 points each for the ATP and WTA rankings.