Tennis professional Alexander Zverev has put an end to the guesswork surrounding his mysterious health problems and will have to forego a start at the tournament in Beijing due to pneumonia.
After winning the Laver Cup last weekend in Berlin, the world number two is treating himself and his body to a longer break.
“Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with pneumonia, which explains the difficulties I’ve had physically in recent months,” Zverev told the German Press Agency. “I have to take care of my health first so that I can compete again as soon as possible.”
At the 500 event in the Chinese capital, the 27-year-old would have been seeded second behind the Italian Jannik Sinner. “I am very disappointed that I had to withdraw from the China Open. I will miss my Chinese fans in Beijing and hope to be able to play in front of them again soon,” Zverev continued.
At the Laver Cup in Berlin last week, the world number two once again complained of fever and cough. The Hamburg native has been suffering from health setbacks all season. Zverev also recently complained that the tournament calendar was far too full and the season was therefore too long.
Possible return to Shanghai
The German hopes to be able to play the Masters 1000 tournament in Shanghai from October 2 to 13 as planned. Zverev will then have events in Vienna and Paris on his schedule before heading to the ATP finals of the best eight players in Turin.
Zverev’s start at the Davis Cup finals in Malaga at the end of November is also still open. Team manager Michael Kohlmann had initially not nominated Zverev, but left a fifth place in the team free so that the Tokyo Olympic champion could be nominated.
Source: www.sport.de
