Zverev suffers ankle injury and is swept away, severe swelling prompts urgent medical attention, casting a shadow over his Finals campaign

In the Paris Masters semifinal, German tennis star Zverev faced a crushing defeat. Afterwards, he revealed that his ankle is now “severely swollen” and that he is seeking medical help to salvage his year-end Finals journey.

During the previous round against Medvedev, Zverev twisted his ankle during an extensive run to save a ball in the eighth game of the first set. However, after some basic treatment from the physiotherapist, he managed to finish the match and defeat Medvedev, suggesting the injury wasn’t serious. Yet, in yesterday’s match, Zverev showed no form throughout and surprisingly won only one game, suffering a heavy 0-6, 1-6 loss to Italian player Sinner.

After the match, he stated in an interview, “Unfortunately, my ankle became severely swollen after yesterday’s match. Honestly, if you’re not at 100% against Sinner, if you can’t perform at your best, you have no chance of winning.”

Zverev explained, “I couldn’t move properly. I couldn’t put full power into my serve, which is crucial when playing against him.”

He admitted that the ankle injury limited his movement and weakened his serve, directly impacting his performance. Moreover, this painful defeat is more than just a loss; it casts doubt on his participation prospects for two major events this month — the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup.

Facing the ankle trouble, Zverev has already devised an emergency plan. He revealed, “I might go to Munich to see the doctor who performed my ankle surgery.”

The purpose of this visit is very clear — to assess the injury and explore possible remedies. Injection therapy might be one of his current options. Zverev said, “Maybe I can get an injection, then I’ll head to Turin.” He also disclosed that he’s willing to play even if he has to rely on painkillers.

However, Zverev faces a tough challenge. On October 24th, he secured his spot as the fourth qualifier for the Turin ATP Finals, marking his eighth appearance at this elite event. Zverev has lifted the year-end Finals trophy twice — in 2018 at London’s O2 Arena and in 2021 in Turin. Besides the Finals, he also plans to compete in the Davis Cup Finals held in Bologna from November 18 to 23.

Zverev’s injury has attracted widespread attention throughout the tennis community.

Fans have expressed concern about his physical condition, with social media filled with discussions and well-wishes. Some fans pointed out that at the Vienna final, Zverev showed good form and fought fiercely against Sinner, but his condition in Paris was clearly affected by the ankle, raising worries that his current physical state may no longer support a Grand Slam victory.

Another fan commented, “This explains why he struggled so much to move on court; even simple running looked difficult. At the end of the season, the accumulation of injuries and fatigue is truly tormenting! ATP really should take care of players’ health and cancel some unnecessary tournaments!”

Many tennis enthusiasts hope Zverev can recover in time to perform at his best in the year-end Finals.

The Turin ATP Finals are about to begin, but the road there looks extremely bleak for Zverev. Before that, he will go to Munich — to the doctor who once operated on his ankle. The outcome will determine whether he can appear on the Finals stage as planned.(Source: Tennis Home Author: Lu Xiaotian)