Paris – After the semi-final drama at the French Open against Rafael Nadal, Alexander Zverev began the anxious wait for the diagnosis. But the 25-year-old does not hold out much hope that he might have escaped with a scare.
Instead, he apparently expects a longer break. “It looks like I have a very serious injury,” Zverev said in a video message circulated by the organisers on Saturday night. “But the medical team and the doctors are still checking it. We will inform you when we know more,” the Olympic champion said, visibly upset.
Off the court in a wheelchair
The scenes on Court Philippe Chatrier had already suggested the worst. Zverev lay on the floor with his face contorted in pain and tears in his eyes as he was driven off the court in a wheelchair. The dream of the second Grand Slam final of his career and the chance to win his first title at one of the four most important tournaments had been shattered in the most brutal way.
After receiving first aid in the catacombs of Centre Court, Zverev and his team led by father Alexander Senior and coach Sergi Bruguera left the Bois de Boulogne facility. “It was a very difficult moment for me on the court,” Zverev said later in the video. “It was a fantastic match until what happened. “
Zverev is now scheduled to fly home this Saturday. “After that you have to see what the final diagnosis is, how bad it is and how Sascha (his call name) can best recover,” his brother Mischa said as a TV pundit on Eurosport.
Nadal: “I hope nothing is broken”.
“I hope he’s not quite as badly injured and nothing is broken,” said Nadal, who had also imagined his return to the Roland Garros final would be very different. Although the Spaniard was celebrated by the spectators on his 36th birthday, he was not really happy after Zverev had to retire at 6:7 (8:10), 6:6 from the German’s point of view after a little more than three hours of play.
“I know how hard he fights to win a Grand Slam tournament. I’m sure he will win not just one, but several,” the Spaniard said of Zverev. Nadal will face Norway’s Casper Ruud, who won against Croatia’s Marin Cilic in four sets, in Sunday’s final.
When Zverev will be back on the tennis court is completely uncertain. Next up for the 25-year-old would be the grass court tournament in Halle/Westphalia in about a week. But a start in East Westphalia seems out of the question. Nor did anyone want to think about participation in the next Grand Slam tournament in Wimbledon from 27 June on Friday evening.
So far largely lucky
Everything depends on how serious the damage to the ligaments and bones in his ankle is. So far, Zverev has been largely spared serious injuries in his career. The Hamburg native is considered a very well-trained and fit player. The twisting of his ankle on Friday was simply bad luck, Nadal said.
The Majorcan knows all about injuries and has been struggling with a chronic foot injury for quite some time now. The problems affect him so much that he would even trade another French Open title for an end to the pain. “I would prefer to lose the final on Sunday and get a new foot for that,” Nadal said. “I would be happy with a life with a new foot. Winning is wonderful, but life is much more important than all the titles. “
