Former world No 3 Alexander Zverev admits he is now more patient and appreciative of “the little things” following a long injury break. Zverev, 25, tore several ligaments at the French Open before sustaining a bone edema in September.
After missing the entire second half of the 2022 season, Zverev returned to action at this week’s Diriyah Tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia. “The injury taught me to be more patient and to appreciate the little things.
When I walked for the first time, I was happy like a little kid. When I was able to walk for the first time, it felt like I had won the biggest tournament in the world. Things you could do all your life were suddenly special to you.
That’s the huge difference between after the injury and before the injury,” Zverev told Eurosport.
Zverev grateful and blessed to be able to play
After spending six months at home and watching tennis from his couch, Zverev admits he is now just grateful and blessed to be able to play the game he loves.
“When you’re on this tennis circuit, you play 11 months a year and you’re at a new tournament every week, you travel every week. You forget to appreciate that you’re this tennis player in the first place, playing in front of 20,000 spectators in the biggest stadiums in the world, and you’re doing the sport that you love more than anything.
You forget all that a little bit. Then when you’re out for seven months with an injury where you really can’t do anything, you start to think a little bit about how much you actually miss it. Honestly, I missed it incredibly.
After the injury, I know even less about what I would do without tennis,” Zverev added. For the 2022 season, Zverev had two big goals in his mind – to win a Grand Slam and reach the world No 1 ranking. At the French Open, Zverev made the semifinal before sustaining a major injury.
After the French Open, Zverev reached a career-high ranking of No 2 in the world. It remains to be seen if Zverev can accomplish those two goals in 2023.
