Tennis star Alexander Zverev (26) narrowly failed in the group phase of the ATP Finals at the season finale in Turin. The Hamburger wants to continue attacking in 2024. The German number 1 has already confirmed his participation in the four major tournaments in Germany (Munich, Stuttgart, Halle and Hamburg).
BILD met the 2021 Olympic champion, who has suffered from type 1 diabetes since he was four, at the Alexander Zverev Foundation gala in the Hotel Tannenhof in Weiler im Allgäu for an interview.
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BILD: Mr. Zverev, you founded your foundation in 2022. Are you satisfied with what you were able to achieve?
Alexander Zverev: I am very satisfied. We have had many projects that we have been able to help with. We also have many new projects. We know what we want to do and already have certain plans.
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What are the plans?
There are many countries internationally that have a different healthcare system than we do. Insulin is not available to everyone there. Bolivia and Nepal are particularly affected by this. We don’t just want to send material there, we also want to educate the doctors and staff on how to deal with it and what to do. This is very important to me because I believe that if you are well equipped, you can live a full and sensible life with diabetes.
You went public with your diabetes in August 2022. What has changed for you since then?
I’m still a tennis player and trying to win tournaments. But through this I have become a caregiver for many children, young people and parents. You can see that you can achieve anything. I also want them to realize that there are cool people with diabetes out there.
Large sum for a good cause. Alexander Zverev’s foundation (2nd from right) supports children and young people in the fight against diabetes. An impressive 101,500 euros were raised at the gala. Mischa Zverev, Götz Ritter, Zverev and manager Thomas Kopp accepted the check (from left to right)
Foto: Agency People Image
Your elimination from the ATP Finals took place before your last group game. Did this bother you?
Of course it was disappointing somewhere. I didn’t qualify because of a hit (in the game against Daniil Medvedev, editor’s note). If I get that in, I’ll be in the semi-finals. On the other hand, I won two games against top five players (Carlos Alcaraz and Andrej Rublew, editor). Not qualifying with two wins feels like it happens once in 100 years.
So you draw a positive conclusion from your season?
Despite being eliminated in the group stage, I am very happy with my season. I’m back again and am ranked seventh in the world. In the middle of the year I was still in 27th place. That’s a huge step forward and a good springboard for next year.
No acting! Here Neymar screams in pain
Source: BILD / Instagram@neymarjr November 27, 2023
What will next year bring?
I want to win every game, but everyone loses sometimes. Even Novak Djokovic loses a game sometimes (laughs). I want to get back to the top, play tennis at my old level and be one of the best players in the world.
The currently best player in the world, Novak Djokovic, won the ATP finals with great dominance.
Novak is an incredible fighter. He is 36 years old but has a body like a 26 year old. He takes care of his body better than any other athlete. You notice and see that. It’s crazy what he has achieved. At some point it will be up to us, the younger generation, to become even better.
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They will be back at the BMW Open in Munich next April. A year later the 250cc became a 500cc tournament.
I’m very happy about that! The further development of the center court including the roof is also very important when we play in Munich in April. It’s nice to see that the tournaments in Germany are getting bigger. I also think that Germany is far too big a country not to have a Masters tournament. Let’s see what happens in the future. There are also a few conversations.
When you say goodbye to the 250cc tournament, you probably want to take the title with you again, right?
Always! I haven’t played well in Munich in recent years. I should change that again. Otherwise it’s a shame for me, the fans and the tournament if I always lose in the second round.
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Source: BILD November 27, 2023
2023-11-27 17:46:55
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