Alexander Zverev reveals ‘most dangerous’ surface as he discusses latest injury recovery
Alexander Zverev has claimed that grass is “definitely the most dangerous surface” as he continues his recovery from an injury sustained at Wimbledon last week.
World No 4 and French Open finalist Zverev was beaten in the fourth round of Wimbledon, losing in five sets to 13th seed Taylor Fritz despite holding a two sets-to-love lead.
The German was wearing a knee support throughout the contest and it was revealed afterwards that he had suffered a potentially significant injury towards the end of his round three win versus Cameron Norrie.
Zverev was back in action on clay on Wednesday on home soil at the Hamburg Open, where he looking to defend the title after triumphing twelve months ago.
And, speaking to SpilXperten afterwards, he claimed that grass was the most dangerous surface – and that he was less worried about aggravating the injury on clay.
“Grass is definitely the most dangerous surface,” he said.
“These things can happen in any match on grass, and it happened to me against Norrie. You slip, and your body gets into a weird position, which normally doesn’t happen on clay.
“On clay, you have better control when you slide than you do on grass. You saw how many players retired or had to withdraw during Wimbledon this year, so I think grass is definitely the most dangerous surface, especially when it’s not completely dry.
“I have a small fracture in the bone, and the bone where the fracture is can only be stressed if I make the same movement again – that is, if I fully extend my knee and then go into hyperextension.
“I have played tennis for twenty-five years, and I have never done it on clay, and I don’t think it’s possible to make that movement on clay either. So if I do it for the first time in twenty-five years, then I am too stupid, and then I’ll have a complete fracture.
“But I believe, and it was also my brother’s and many experts’ opinion, that if you look at the movement on clay, you can’t make the movement I did. Therefore, I see no danger.
“It is a bone, so it will take weeks to fully heal. So it is not a question of one or two days. It is not like it will get better daily; it will take between three and six weeks.
“Then I will have to decide if I can play during that time.”
Zverev will certainly hopeful that he can stay fit ahead of what is a massive summer.
The German is the top seed in Hamburg and is the favourite to defend his title, and win what would be a second title in 2024.
The world No 4 will then head back to Paris for the Olympic Games, where he is the defending champion, before he attempts to win a maiden major at the US Open in New York.
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