Enduring vomiting episodes and elevated knee-high attire, Zverev fights for the semi-final round.
Title: Overcoming Adversity: Zverev Battles Through Vomiting and Knee Injury to Reach Semis
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link Despite an unfriendly rival and physical setbacks, Alexander Zverev fights his way into the grass court semifinals in Halle, facing the "toughest opponent" of his career - Daniil Medvedev.
First, Zverev made a hasty dash to the bathroom, retching violently. Then, he clocked his left knee with his racket. Yet, these obstacles didn't derail the German tennis sensation. He triumphed against the tenacious Flavio Cobolli from Italy in a grueling 6-4, 7-6 (8-6) match, moving on to the semifinals and readying himself for Medvedev.
"Initially, I felt great, but then all of a sudden, I didn't anymore. I had to puke," Zverev shared candidly, recounting the events of the first set after breaking his opponent's serve to begin the game. At 40-40 in the second game, he crumbled at the baseline - rapidly departing towards the bathroom. "Can't pinpoint what it was," Zverev shrugged, but he remained optimistic, asserting, "Regardless, it turned out to be a pretty good match."
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Zverev's Resilience Put to the Test: Ready for Wimbledon? Zverev regained his composure, dismissing the mishit overhead at 3-1 with a chuckle. Nevertheless, the Italian contender proved to be persistent, failing to convert any of his six break opportunities.
Clocking in at 1 hour and 41 minutes, Zverev capitalized on his second match point, preparing to face a daunting opponent on grass whom he hasn't fared well against. Medvedev, Zverev's nemesis, boasts a 13-7 advantage in their head-to-head record, defeating Zverev in 11 of their last 13 encounters. "He's one of the toughest opponents I've ever faced," Zverev acknowledged about the player he's tangled with more than any other. However, he expressed eagerness for their upcoming duel.
Their previous battle occurred in the Australian Open 2024 semifinals, with Medvedev triumphing after recovering from a 0-2 deficit.
Sports Sinner Suffers Shocking Upset: Emotional Zverev Edges Thriller The third-seeded Medvedev was the first to make it to the semifinals, demolishing Alex Michelsen from the USA 6-4, 6-3. Medvedev too experienced a momentary halt: at 3-1 in the second set, he took a brief pause to manage a sudden nosebleed.
Zverev has participated in Halle nine times, reaching the final on three occasions. He hasn't yet secured a victory in the tournament. In 2016, he fell to Florian Mayer in the final, and in 2017, he succumbed to Roger Federer.
Source: ntv.de, ses/sid
- Tennis
- Alexander Zverev
- Halle
"I'm not going to be able to do this," Zverev admitted, speaking about the grueling tennis match against his Italian opponent, Flavio Cobolli, where he battled not only the match's intensity but also sudden physical challenges such as vomiting and a knee injury.
Despite his struggles on the court, Zverev has continued to excel in the sport of tennis, especially in tournaments like Halle where he's played nine times and reached the final on three occasions. However, he has yet to secure a victory in the tournament, making his upcoming match against Daniil Medvedev, a tough opponent he's faced more than any other with a 13-7 record against him, all the more challenging.
