Zverev relapsed from his ankle injury “for months”

The German Alexander Zverev He withdrew from playing the Davis Cup group stage at his home in Hamburg because of the “severe pain” he was feeling, and will not return to competition “probably for a few months,” he explained on Monday.

“Maybe I overdid it and now I’m in a lot of pain,” said Alexander Zverev, who said even walking was painful for him. He sped up his preparations to get back on track, but the plan fell through.

“I have to be careful, otherwise it can become dangerous for the future,” added the former world number 2, who fell to fifth in the ATP rankings published on Monday after US Openwhere Zverev retreated.

An edema was diagnosed in the right ankle and there was a risk of fracture. Obviously, he lost for Davis cup“because we are talking about weeks, and more likely even months” for a return to competition, he said somewhat sadly.

Seeing Zverev back on the courts at the end of the season seems unlikely, and the hope is to bounce back more in Australian Open early next year.

In the semifinals of Roland Garroson June 3, the 25-year-old German was forced to retire before the start of the second set tie-break against the Rafael Nadalas two players battle it out over three hours of gameplay.

With a support, Zverev’s right ankle was completely twisted, the player left the court Philippe Chatrier in a wheelchair and returned minutes later on crutches and in tears to formalize his abandonment (7-6 (10/8), 6-6).

Medical tests performed a few days later revealed a rupture of three external ligaments of the right ankle, an injury that required a visit to the operating room and a period of rehabilitation.

Two months after her surgery, last summer’s Tokyo Olympic singles champion was able to play tennis again in early August, and she has made the Davis Cup group stage in her hometown of Hamburg her goal.

Therefore, he will only be on the bench to support his teammates against France on Wednesday, Belgium on Friday and Australia on Sunday.