Alexander Zverev’s comeback at the Davis Cup competition in Hamburg has burst. The local hero suffered a setback in training after suffering a severe ligament injury and will only be able to cheer on his German team-mates from the bench.
The German Davis Cup team made every effort to show fighting spirit despite the top star’s renewed injury. But the depression was clearly visible on the faces of everyone involved, especially Olympic champion Alexander Zverev. “I probably did too much and now I’m in extreme pain,” explained Zverev on Monday in the Hanseatic city. The 25-year-old said he contracted bone edema in his foot during his intensive training.
Bones in the foot could break
There is a risk that the bones in the foot could break when used. “Then I would have a lot of problems for my career and for a very long time,” said Zverev. During training with teammate Oscar Otte on Sunday in Hamburg, the pain in the foot suddenly came back. Curing the current injury is probably “not a matter of days, but of several weeks or months, unfortunately”.
Only “cheerleaders” on the bench
Now he will support the selection of the German Tennis Association (DTB) in the games against France (September 14), Belgium (September 16) and Australia (September 18) “as a cheerleader” from the bench. The Hamburger actually wanted to make his comeback in the Davis Cup after his serious foot injury, which he suffered at the French Open in Paris three and a half months ago. “Since it’s not just in Germany, but in my hometown, I really wanted to be there,” said Zverev.
Hanfmann moves into the DTB team for Zverev
Yannick Hanfmann has replaced him in the DTB squad. The 30-year-old came from Szczecin, where he wanted to take part in an ATP Challenger tournament. He was a substitute in the successful qualifying round in Rio de Janeiro in March, but was not used. The team had previously discussed that he could move up if Zverev wasn’t fit yet, according to Hanfmann.
German team wants to go to the final round without Zverev
But even without Zverev, the German Davis Cup team’s goal remains to survive the group phase and qualify for the finals in Málaga at the end of November. The first and second place winners from the four groups travel there. “We will give everything for the team and for Germany,” announced Jan-Lennart Struff and team boss Michael Kohlmann is also convinced that it will be enough for the next round.
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Hamburg Journal 18.00 | 09/12/2022 | 6:00 p.m
