Alexander Zverev tipped to return from injury better and win Grand Slam titles

Originally posted on Tennisbuzz | Last updated 6/9/22

Alexander Zverev hopes to emulate Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer by returning from injury and winning Grand Slams, says his brother.

Zverev suffered a very nasty fall in the French Open semi-final against Rafael Nadal last week, with him tearing three ligaments in his ankle.

He has already undergone surgery, and that could keep him out for the rest of the season.

However, Mischa says the task now is to make sure this is the start of a glorious comeback story rather than a time to be concerned for his future.

“We don’t want to plan now because when you say it’s going to be a month or two, you count every day and wonder if you’re going to make it or not,” Mischa Zverev said.

“You then have such a feeling of disappointment when you don’t make it.

“When we say, ‘Okay, this will take five or six months,’ you work towards it.

“That’s very, very far away. That’s why we said we’re not thinking about days, weeks or whatever.

“We just look at how the foot and the leg are doing, how Sascha feels physically.

“And then, of course, his play has to be right, because Sascha definitely doesn’t want to come back and not play well.

“Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer are the best examples. They come back and win Grand Slam tournaments – and that’s what Sascha wants to do.

“That means he will do everything to come back at one hundred percent and to be as strong as ever before.”

Mischa Zverev is part of Alexander’s coaching team, and he says the planning starts now to make sure he comes back in top condition.

“I’m the positive one with the smile on my face, always saying: ‘Okay, how do we plan our training? How many push-ups do we do on the first, second, third day? How can we train the gluteus maximus?’

“I tend to plan ahead. What can we do now, how can we use the time well?

“Sascha may come back even more confident. That’s my thought, my belief. I know him quite well and I think that’s what he will do and prove to all of us that he can do it.”

Alexander Zverev will be a career high world number two next week, which would have earned him the top seed at Wimbledon if he could have played.

This article first appeared on Tennisbuzz and was syndicated with permission.

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