“After Laver Cup, I ended up in hospital” – Zverev on skipping China Open
The German gears up for Shanghai Masters as the second seed
(Chryslene Caillaud / Panoramic)
Alexander Zverev has set foot in Shanghai for the penultimate Masters 1000 tournament of the season. He returns to the tour after a successful run with Team Europe at the 2024 Laver Cup from September 20-22 in Berlin, having skipped the China Open due to pneumonia.
Zverev took a 200-point knock to his rankings tally after skipping the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing, where he made the semi-finals in 2023.
In a presser ahead of the Shanghai Masters, the German dived deep into the health complications that troubled him during the Laver Cup, where he earned three crucial points for Team Europe on the concluding day.
“I had a bit of a lung issue,” said the world No 2. “I have an inflammation in my lung that’s going to take a few months, it’s going to take about two, three months to be completely gone. So, taking medication. But why I pulled out of Beijing was, I was quite sick, I had quite high fever during the Laver Cup.
After the Laver Cup, I ended up in hospital. I didn’t feel great, and also just didn’t have the energy to play. I was on antibiotics for a week.”
Alexander Zverev
Zverev, who turned pro in 2013, is yet to lift the trophy in Shanghai. He came close to glory in 2019 as he reached the final but his opponent, Daniil Medvedev, the world No 5 from Russia, had other plans.
In 2023, the German dropped out of the contention following a second-round loss to Russian Roman Safiullin.
He entered the 2024 field in Shanghai as seed No 2 behind Italian Jannik Sinner and was seen hitting on the practice courts ahead of the main draw action.
In the press conference, Zverev affirmed being in better health:
“I feel better now, but, of course, the issue with my lung is not gone, it’s still there. I still have a feeling of maybe being a bit more tired than I’m used to.
“But it’s either I’m going to take the whole season off now or I’m going to play the way I can play. It’s nothing that will delay the recovery or will make it worse if I play, that’s what the doctor said, and that’s why I’m here, and I’m happy to give my 100 percent of what I have.”
The second seed is already through to the second round in Shanghai, courtesy of a bye in the first, and awaits a qualifier.
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