Seven months, an operation and bone edema later, the former world number 2 (June 2022) was back in official competition this Saturday on the side of Sydney for the United Cup, when he had already participated in an exhibition at the beginning of December in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.
“It will take a few weeks before I get back to the level I want to be”
Logically after such a long absence, the German did not appear at ease against the Czech Jiri Lehecka (81st in the world), losing in two sets (6-4, 6-2). ” Physically, I’m not at the level I should be, […] I get tired much faster than usual”he said after his meeting.
“I’m not as fast as I probably was, he specified. To be honest, I’ve been pain free for about two or three weeks now, since Saudi Arabia basically. Before that, I was in pain and I wasn’t able to do all the different kinds of things I want to do. It will take a few weeks before I get back to the level I want to be. »
Currently 12th in the world, Zverev (25) is advancing to the Australian Open (January 16-29) without any certainty about his level. ” It’s hard to set high expectations right now, he concluded. It would be unrealistic and also quite stupid for me to set expectations towards victory or something like that. Of course I want to win. Everyone wants to win. But for me, it’s about getting back into the form I’m used to. »
