Alexander Zverev has described his injury at the 2022 French Open as the most challenging period of his career. The German star was just one match away from becoming world No. 1 when he tore his ankle ligaments during a gripping semi-final against Rafael Nadal.
At the time, Zverev was playing some of his best tennis and was locked in a tight battle with Nadal, who led 7-6(8), 6-6 before Zverev’s injury. With Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev already out of the tournament, the path to the top ATP ranking seemed within reach. However, the injury not only dashed those dreams but also sidelined him for the rest of the season.
“2022 at the French Open was the toughest moment of my career,” Zverev shared in a video for his racket sponsor, Head. “I was playing the best tennis of my life against the greatest clay-court player ever. Even if I lost, it’s Nadal – you can lose to him at the French Open. But knowing I just needed one win in three months to become world No. 1 made it even harder.”
The road to recovery was grueling, as Zverev struggled with basic tasks like walking. Despite falling out of the top 20 in early 2023, he bounced back, reaching the semi-finals at Roland Garros and climbing back to a career-high world No. 2 in 2024.
Reflecting on his journey, Zverev said, “I’m happy where I am now. I’ve won big tournaments and feel like I’m back at the top.”
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