Tennis professional Alexander Zverev is playing in his home country again. The tennis star wants to be fit again by the Davis Cup in Hamburg at the latest. During his brief visit to the Hanseatic city, he also has an important personal message.
Tennis professional Alexander Zverev is playing in his home country again. The tennis star wants to be fit again by the Davis Cup in Hamburg at the latest. During his brief visit to the Hanseatic city, he also has an important personal message.
Alexander Zverev was a few minutes late for a flying visit to his hometown. A thunderstorm in the region where he chose to live, Monaco, prevented the tennis Olympic champion from punctual departure to Hamburg. The 25-year-old definitely wants to be there in time for the Davis Cup in a month’s time in the Hanseatic city.
“I’ve already started to train hard for the Davis Cup,” said Zverev in a good mood at a press conference in a hotel with a view of the Alster. There is no question “that I will be at the Davis Cup”.
Just a few weeks ago, his participation seemed unlikely. The second in the world rankings twisted against Rafael Nadal in the semifinals of the French Open on June 3 and tore all three lateral ligaments in his right ankle. The doctors first told him it would take him four months to get back on the pitch, said Zverev. Now he himself is surprised at the rapid healing process.
The Davis Cup Group Finals will take place from September 13th to 18th at Rothenbaum. The German team meets France (September 14th), Belgium (September 16th) and Australia (September 18th) in their group.
“Of course they are strong opponents, but we also have a strong team,” said Zverev. “It will be a highlight for me this year, and also a highlight for all the other guys.” The goal is to win the group and qualify for the final tournament from November 22nd to 27th in Malaga.
In Hamburg, the game is played on a hard court instead of the usual sand court at Rothenbaum. In addition, the roof of the stadium will be closed. “It will be a great atmosphere,” said the President of the German Tennis Association, Dietloff von Arnim: “And I think we will be successful. Of course, the spectators will be decisive.”
Zverev sees it the same way. “It will definitely be a home game,” he said. “It will be something completely different than playing an ATP tournament at home.” In the team you are always together and cheer each other on. “And when we then have 10,000 spectators in the stadium and tens of thousands of people know that we are playing at home, it’s something special.” Zverev left it open whether he would start at the US Open at the end of the month. “I’m not sure if there will be anything else with the US Open,” he said. In ten days he will know more.
Then it got personal again and he talked about his diabetes, which he had made public over the weekend. At the same time he had announced the establishment of a foundation. “You can achieve a lot with this disease,” said Alexander Zverev, who says he was teased as a child because of the diabetes. “I would like to encourage many other children and many parents not to set any limits.” That is his message.
Like all diabetics, he had to inject himself several times a day, said Zverev. He also regularly checks his values during the match. “I’m in control of my story, fortunately.”
Soon after, Zverev drove back to the airport and flew back to Monaco. Training was on the program again in the afternoon. The Davis Cup in Hamburg is waiting for the local hero to take part.
