Injured since Roland-Garros, the German player hoped to represent his country this week in the Davis Cup.
Germany’s Alexander Zverev gave up playing the Davis Cup group stage at home in Hamburg on Monday, due to “extreme painfelt, and when he hoped to be able to participate. He has not played a match since his injury in the semi-finals of Roland-Garros.
«I probably did too much and now I’m in extreme pain“, explained Alexander Zverev, who specifies that even walking is currently painful for him.
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«I have to be careful, otherwise it can become dangerous for the future“, Added the ex-N.2 world, down to 5th place in the ATP ranking published Monday after the US Open, for which Zverev had withdrawn.
The Davis Cup was a goal
In the French Open semi-finals on June 3, the 25-year-old German was forced to retire before the start of the second set tiebreaker against Rafael Nadal, as the two players fought an epic battle of more than three hours of gameplay.
On a support, Zverev’s right ankle completely turned, the player left the Philippe-Chatrier court in a wheelchair and returned a few minutes later on crutches and in tears to formalize his abandonment (7-6 (10/8 ), 6-6).
Medical examinations carried out a few days later revealed the tearing of the three external ligaments of the right ankle, an injury which required a passage on the operating table and a period of rehabilitation.
Two months after his operation, the Tokyo Olympic champion in singles last summer was able to play tennis again in early August, and had made the group stage of the Davis Cup, in Hamburg his hometown, his goal.
He will therefore only be on the bench to support his teammates against France on Wednesday, Belgium on Friday and Australia on Sunday.
