Return to tennis Zverev says he has been in peak match condition for weeks

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SYDNEY (Reuters) – Alexander Zverev returned to competition on Saturday for the first time since June following ankle surgery, but said after losing 6-4 6-2 to Czech Jiri Lehecka at the United Cup that he was in some ways. about conditioning for the top match.

Zverev, 25, underwent surgery to repair damaged ankle ligaments after the injury he sustained in the French Open semi-final against Rafa Nadal.

The German’s return was further delayed in September when he suffered bone swelling that forced him to withdraw from the group stage of the Davis Cup final. He then played in this month’s Diriyah Tennis Cup exhibition event in Saudi Arabia.

Zverev, who rose to world number two in June and has since fallen to 12th, said the injury was no longer a concern but needed more time to get his body up to speed after losing the mixed teams tournament in Sydney. .

“Physically, I’m not at the level I need to be. This is not even a question. I’m getting tired much faster than usual,” Zverev told reporters.

“I’m not as fast as I probably was. To be honest, I’ve only been pain-free for about two, three weeks now, because basically all of Saudi Arabia. Before that, I was in pain and I couldn’t do all the kinds of things I want to do.

“I don’t think it’s tomorrow, the day after tomorrow. It’s going to be a few weeks before I get back to the level I want to be at.”

Zverev’s early promise is yet to deliver a Grand Slam title, and the 2020 US Open runner-up said he did not have high expectations ahead of the Australian Open, which starts on January 16.

“It’s hard to set expectations high right now. I think it would be unrealistic and also quite silly to set expectations for a win or something like that,” said Zverev, who reached the semifinals at Melbourne Park two years ago.

“Of course I want to win. Everyone wants to win. For me it’s about getting back to the form I’m used to.”

(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru)