Tennis star sick again – How is Alexander Zverev really doing? – Sport

Berlin (dpa) – At the end of a memorable press conference, Alexander Zverev sent the journalists and fans in front of the screens to bed with many question marks. Germany’s best tennis player had just lost for the third time in a row against his arch-rival Taylor Fritz from the USA and actually just wanted to sleep. But when the world number two suddenly made a secret about his health, he shook everyone present in the small media room awake again shortly before midnight.

Zverev admitted at the Laver Cup that he had had a fever for four days, was not feeling well and was therefore barely present at his teammates’ matches. When asked specifically about his fitness and whether he would play in all of the next tournaments as planned, the German replied: “I was somewhat gagged by my management back there, by my brother and Sergej.” So please ask them both questions. I’m not allowed to say anything.”

Brother Mischa and Sergej Bubka stood behind the journalists when Zverev avoided questions in the press conference after the 4:6, 5:7 defeat against Fritz. The management did not comment either. “It’s about a person’s health and we will not say anything about it,” said Mischa Zverev.

On the final day of the Laver Cup in Berlin, Zverev celebrated a highly dramatic victory against Frances Tiafoe after a great fight and over two and a half hours of play. However, the German did not seem to be at full strength at 6:7 (5:7), 7:5 and 10:5. It was only thanks to the support of the home fans that Zverev mobilized his last reserves of energy and turned the Uber Arena, filled with 13,500 spectators, into a cauldron. “He was tired and felt just as good as the day before,” reported Zverev.

Blood tests do not provide clarity

Zverev had already been coughing violently on the court during Carlo Alcaraz’s party in the afternoon. His condition then worsened during his own match. Zverev knelt between rallies or leaned on his racket. He was obviously having trouble breathing. In the middle of the second set he called the doctor onto the court. “I was a bit ill this week. My heart rate was pretty high,” the Tokyo Olympic champion later reported after missing out on a rematch against the American.

The French Open finalist has not been 100 percent fit for months. Before the Australian Open semi-final in January, he had a fever. At the Olympics, he complained of dizziness and reported that he had seen four balls at times. The German was also ill and coughed loudly when he was knocked out in Montreal. According to Zverev, blood tests have not provided any clarity about the cause of the symptoms. According to information from the “Bild” newspaper, Zverev visited a doctor again this week.

The Hamburg native left it open whether the season could be completed as planned. “I don’t know,” he said. Zverev, who made his long-term diabetes public in 2022, was actually supposed to travel to China after the Laver Cup, where the important tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai are scheduled. After the highly endowed tournament in Paris, the ATP Finals and the final round of the Davis Cup are also still on the calendar.

Playing less is not an option

We can only speculate about Zverev’s actual condition and the reasons for the health setbacks. Is it due to the packed tournament schedule and the lack of rest breaks for the professionals? The season is unnecessarily long, said Zverev, and blamed the ATP: “The ATP is not interested in our opinion. It’s a money business.”

For most professionals, the season begins after Christmas with the United Cup in Australia and continues until the Davis Cup finals at the end of November. In addition to the four Grand Slam tournaments, the Masters 1000 events have been confirmed for the players. “If you are an ambitious, young person who feels like you haven’t achieved everything yet, that’s not an option,” Zverev replied when asked if he wanted to play less. The German then engaged in a verbal exchange with a journalist about the sense of the players’ strike in tennis. “We must not boycott. “We will be fined if we don’t play the tournaments,” said Zverev. Then he left the room. Closely followed by his management.

© dpa-infocom, dpa:240922-930-239487/4