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Alexander Zvrerev is a regular at the night session (this is his third this year) and the 8th Porte d'Auteuil final. He played his sixth consecutive on Monday night. Semi-finalist in 2021 and 2022, the world number 27, also experienced one of the worst moments of his career last year. He had delivered that day an anthology fight against the master of the place Rafael Nadal. And at 7-6 (8), 6-6 and already more than three hours of play his right ankle cracked. Result: Three ligaments torn off, an operation in the wake and a season over.
He had left Philippe-Chartrier in a wheelchair and returned to greet the crowd a few minutes later armed with crutches. In a press conference, the German assured that the memories of his injury had mostly returned during his 2nd round match against Alex Molcan (victory in three sets at night), for his return to the Philippe-Chatrier. "Yes, a little bit, that's why before this match, I went on the court to see it because I hadn't been there since the accident. That was very important to me."
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After his arm wrestle won against Frances Tiafoe in the third round in four sets (3-6, 7-6, 6-1, 7-6) Saturday night, he confessed hot at the microphone of Mats Wilander, after his victory. "This has been the hardest year of my life. I don't play tennis for fame or money, I just love competition. Being away from it was difficult. I'm very happy to be back, it will be a great second week for me."
His horrific injury, contracted on the same Chatrier, kept him away from the field for many months. The road to rebuilding has been long for the man who hadn't beaten any Top 20 player since returning to the courts in January. He had to take his pain in patience before recovering total confidence in his mobility. The 2020 US Open finalist now feels free of his injury problems. "I don't have that in my head anymore. A few weeks ago, I was still receiving signals from my foot," he said in Doha in early March. It's going in the right direction and I feel like I can finally play pretty freely. I look forward to the next few weeks. I hope it will gradually improve." By beating the world 12th – not a great earthling, however, – the Olympic champion, double winner of the Masters, recalled that he was considered future world number one a few years ago. "I'm happy to be in the eighth round and to be in the second week of a Grand Slam. I'm here to play against some of the best players in the world, and today really was.
»In an ultra-open quarter-final, with Nishioka or Etcheverry as potential opponents in the quarterfinals, Zverev is the favorite to reach the last four for a third time. One year later. From hell to a possible paradise.
