By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Wednesday, July 17, 2024
Defending Hamburg Open champion Alexander Zverev is playing through the pain of a lingering knee injury at this week’s ATP 500 event.
The World No. 4 Zverev and tournament top seed enjoyed a rather comfortable 6-2, 6-2 win over Netherlands qualifer Jesper de Jong. Zverev only lost seven points on his first serve and never faced a break point.
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Yet for Zverev, he was unsure he would even play at all during to a lingering knee injury he suffered during his third round match against Cameron Norrie at Wimbledon a few weeks ago.
Zverev, who pushed his opening round match from Tuesday to Wednesday, waited until the last minute almost to go on the court.
“Actually, I didn't know this morning if I would play or not. During the warm-up, it wasn't good, but I got some treatment for my knee, and after that, it felt much better, and then I decided to play,” Zverev said after his match according to Danish news outlet SpilXperten.
"On the court, I haven't felt as comfortable since the injury, and I felt much better than I had expected. Of course, I am extremely happy about that. I would guess that I will continue to play now. Now I know how my body reacts to playing.
"Of course, it wasn't the most intense match. It wasn't the hardest match, but it was still a full match, and it was still a question mark for me. I don't want to give up during a match. I don't want to retire during a match. I have only done it once in my life."
Zverev, who had fluid and blood removed from a capsule in his knee post-Wimbledon, revealed he also has a small bone fracture. But despite the injury, Zverev will play on especially since he is back on clay courts for the next few weeks.
"I have a small fracture in the bone, and the bone where the fracture is can only be stressed if I make the same movement again – that is, if I fully extend my knee and then go into hyperextension. I have played tennis for twenty-five years, and I have never done it on clay, and I don't think it's possible to make that movement on clay either. So if I do it for the first time in twenty-five years, then I am too stupid, and then I'll have a complete fracture."
The fracture itself could take between three to six weeks to fully heal.
That time frame will coincide with the upcoming Summer Olympics Games in Paris where Zverev is set to defend his Olympic Men’s Gold Medal from the Tokyo 2020 games.
When asked what his feelings are on possibly being the flag bearer for the German team in the Opening Ceremony, Zverev looked forward to the opportunity if so honored.
"If someone told me that I should walk in as a flag bearer, it would mean even more to me, to be honest (than winning the Olympics)," Zverev said. "But if I am in the tournament, then I aim to win it, that is always my mindset. A medal at the Olympics is always special, no matter which one it is. If it's gold, of course, it's something special, and that will also be my goal."
"Leading an entire nation and so many top German athletes into the Olympics is simply the greatest honor an athlete can receive. And of course, the gold medal I won at the last Olympics is one of the highest achievements you can have in sports and for me personally the greatest success in my career.
"If I could carry the flag, it would add even more to it. I would be very happy if the athletes and the German people see me as their flag bearer and captain to lead them into the Olympics."
Zverev will next face France’s Hugo Gaston in the Round of 16.
Photo Credit: Marcus Brandt/Getty Images
Quote Source: SpilXperten