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Zverev at the Davis Cup press conference in Hamburg: "I probably did too much"
Photo: Michael Schwartz / dpa
Tennis star Alexander Zverev has been working on his comeback for weeks after suffering a serious ligament injury at the French Open.
Since today it is clear: he will be missing from the German team because of a new injury in the Davis Cup intermediate round in Hamburg.
The 25-year-old said he contracted bone edema in his foot during his intensive training.
There is a risk that the bones in the foot could break when used.
"Then I would have a lot of problems for my career and for a very long time," said Zverev.
Because of the pain in his foot, he was recently unable to really walk or walk.
"I guess I did too much and now I'm in extreme pain," said the Olympic tennis champion.
Now he will support the selection of the German Tennis Association in the games against France, Belgium and Australia from Wednesday "as a cheerleader" from the bench, said Zverev.
The Hamburger actually wanted to make his comeback in the Davis Cup after his serious foot injury, which he suffered three and a half months ago in the semifinals against Rafael Nadal at the French Open in Paris.
Zverev had recently canceled his participation in the US Open.
Things had looked good for Zverev recently: Two days ago he was still training normally and even found time for a game with the oldest tennis player in the world according to the Guinness Book, 98-year-old Ukrainian Leonid Stanislavskyi.
Then came the setback.
Yannick Hanfmann, 30 years old, is in the DTB squad for Zverev.
In the upcoming intermediate round games, the German team is concerned with qualifying for the final round in Málaga at the end of November.
The first and second place winners from the four groups travel there.
see/dpa/sid