‘I See Four Balls Coming Towards Me’: Zverev Details Brutal Health Struggles

Alexander Zverev has recently opened up about the health challenges he has been facing, revealing that he has been battling diabetes while continuing to compete at the highest levels of tennis. The 27-year-old German athlete, who has been publicly managing his condition by frequently checking his blood sugar levels during matches, shared insights into his ongoing struggle in a candid interview with German publication *BILD*.

Zverev’s health issues became apparent during the 2024 Hamburg Open, an ATP 500 tournament held in his hometown. Despite his strong performance throughout the event, he lost in the final to Arthur Fils. This tournament held special significance for Zverev, but he admitted in the interview that he was grappling with health problems that impacted his performance.

He described his experience in Hamburg, noting that he began to feel unusually fatigued. “Two weeks ago in Hamburg, I realized that something was wrong. I got tired very quickly, and this issue continued in Paris during the 2024 Olympic Games,” Zverev explained. He struggled notably in a second-round match against Hugo Gaston, which was his only three-set encounter before the final. Zverev had to mount a comeback to win that match 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, highlighting his physical struggles.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Zverev was defeated in the quarter-finals by Lorenzo Musetti with scores of 5-7, 5-7. Following this loss, he disclosed the extent of his difficulties, revealing that his condition was affecting his ability to perform. “Sometimes, I see four balls coming towards me, which makes it very difficult to compete at the highest level. When my sugar levels are off, I feel slower, dizzy, and incapable of executing my game effectively,” Zverev said.

The former World No. 2 player acknowledged that these health issues are preventing him from competing at his best. “If I feel like I do now, I can’t win a tournament. I feel like I’m at the beginning of the season in terms of my form,” he admitted, suggesting that he may need to take time off to properly rest and recover.

As the ATP calendar moves forward, Zverev faces a tough decision. The upcoming schedule includes the 2024 Canadian Open in Montreal, the Cincinnati Open, and the US Open in Flushing Meadows. Zverev will need to carefully consider his health and recovery to make informed choices about his participation in these events.

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