Another setback for Zverev

Instead of making his comeback in the Davis Cup intermediate round in Hamburg as planned this week, the Olympic champion is condemned to watch because of a new injury. The 25-year-old said on Monday in Hamburg that he suffered bone edema in his foot during his intensive training. Healing is “not a matter of days, but weeks and months.”

There is a risk that the bone in the foot could break during use. “Then I would have a lot of problems for a very long time in my career,” said Zverev. Because of the pain in his foot, he was recently unable to really run or walk. “Of course I'm disappointed, but there's nothing I can do.” He will now cheer on the team from the bench. His new role: “I will be a cheerleader in the best sense of the word.”

Alexander Zverev was injured at the French Open. © ANSA / MARTIN DIVISEK

It was intended differently: In the semifinals of the French Open on June 3rd, he sprained against Rafael Nadal and tore all three lateral ligaments in his right ankle. The doctors had told him it would take him four months to get back on the pitch. Healing was quicker. The US Open came too early for the comeback, the Davis Cup in his hometown of Hamburg was the new goal. His injury has healed, said Zverev. But: “I trained too intensively.” That led to the new injury.

“That was a shock for all of us,” said team boss Michael Kohlmann about the moment in training on Sunday. “That took a while. You can't shake that off so easily.” Nevertheless, he had to react and nominated Yannick Hanfmann. The 30-year-old wanted to play in a Challenger tournament in Szczecin this week. Germany believes in progress Despite the loss of their number one, the German team was confident before the games against France on Wednesday, against Belgium on Friday and against Australia on Sunday - even if it sounded like expedient optimism. “I believe in it and am convinced that we are good enough to get into the next round,” said Kohlmann. “We still want to be successful.”

The next round is the finals from November 22nd to 27th in Málaga. The first and second place winners from the four groups travel there. The new number one in the team is now Jan-Lennard Struff. “My role hasn’t changed,” he said. “We will step on the gas from the start. We have a good team.” At least the hosts have the most famous cheerleader.

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Another setback for Zverev

Alexander Zverev has been severely punished for his excessive ambition and is once again forced to take a longer break from tennis.

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