Cagey Zverev stratagises his injury return

Alexander Zverev won’t be taking any chances with his return to tennis half a year after a serious ankle injury, with the German set to make a test run at a December exhibition.

The former No. 2 who currently stands 12th after being stretchered off in his Paris semi-final against Rafael Nadal on June 3, will test his form at the big-money event in Saudi Arabia.

“I don’t want my first tournament after injury to be in Australia, so I’ve decided to play in this exhibition tournament,” he told local media.

“I need to go little by little and that’s why I think I’ve made the right decision playing in Arabia.”

The 25-year-old whose career has stalled after reaching the US Open finals two years ago, is keen to get stuck back into life on the Tour.

  “I’m really looking forward to playing on tour again and playing against the best players.”

He is also missing his old mates and rivals on the ATP, especially fellow injury victim and German speaker Dominic Thiem.

“After being injured for so long, it is normal that I have missed many tennis players. Even though we are rivals, I also have many friends on tour.

“It is normal that I have missed them. I feel like we (him and Thiem) haven’t seen each other much in the last two years. In 2021 he spent a lot of time injured and in 2022 it was me who had that bad luck.”

Main photo:- Alexander Zverev retires from Roland Garros 2022 with ankle injury in semi-final against Nadal.Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd