Then he was suddenly thrown back, presumably badly injured. How difficult is still unclear. Particularly tragic, especially since: Whether in the semifinals against Nadal or before that in a convincing win against top talent Carlos Alcaraz – his first in a Grand Slam against a top ten player – Zverev played the best tennis of his career.
Stronger, more focused – and wiser
So Alexander Zverev remains the biggest promise that German tennis has had for many years. His potential remains undisputed, he not only has what it takes to be a world-class player, he has long since arrived in the elite of his sport. Depending on the severity of his injury, he will now have to fight his way back.
Not only healthwise, also athletically. Anyone who saw the tears of the 25-year-old when he dragged himself off the pitch with a pained face, supported by two helpers, and when he returned a little later on crutches to say a decent goodbye in front of the Parisian audience, can only, must only acknowledge: This Alexander Zverev plays, lives, breathes tennis.
And: This Alexander Zverev can and will come back. Stronger, more focused – and wiser.
In February, the man from Hamburg just couldn’t get his emotions under control again at a tournament, I wrote to him, the highly gifted but uncontrolled one: “Damn it, pull yourself together!” (Read more about this here). Now the request to fate could be: “Damn it, let him play!”
Zverev will grow from this setback. For German tennis. For his purpose in life. Above all, for yourself.