Zverev marvels at flash healing

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Three hours and three minutes were played in the semifinals at the 2022 French Open, Alexander Zverev led against Rafael Nadal in the second set. A three-part thriller was imminent. But then it happened: the German twisted his ankle, was badly injured and had to give up, record champion Nadal entered the final.

What follows is a long period of suffering for Zverev – he will not return to court until 2023. Zverev now plays his first clay court tournament of the season in Monte Carlo.

Ahead of the tournament, the 25-year-old spoke to Eurosport about his return to the surface, where he suffered a serious injury 11 months ago: “I had to get the injury and accident out of my mind so that I could feel safe to to move and slide on the field.” Normally he gets used to the surface faster.

Zverev is enthusiastic about Federer and Nadal

It was difficult for Zverev to come back after the long injury break. He had to relearn entire sequences of movements.

That’s why he admires tennis greats like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal: “It was different with Rafa and Roger than with me. They came back from injuries and immediately started winning tournaments again. I don’t know how they did it, but they are more than succeeded for 20 years,” he enthuses.

Zverev is not far from his best tennis, only the results in the important matches are still missing: “You have to win these matches to feel like you’re back. I think that’s all I have at the moment wrong.”

In Monte-Carlo, Zverev now wants to regain this feeling and celebrate a good start to the clay court season. (byl)

Source : Blick