Alexander Zverev, the world No. 2 tennis star, delivered a stunning display of grit at the 2025 Hamburg Open, only to suffer a heartbreaking defeat that underscored his unyielding determination. In a shocking second-round upset, the German fell 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(5) to Alexandre Muller, a player ranked well below him, in a match that pushed Zverev to his physical limits. After the loss, he revealed the staggering toll of his effort: “For the fact that I threw up 37 times and had a fever of 39.4 degrees all night, that’s actually quite okay.” His candid admission, laced with a wry sense of pride, painted a vivid picture of a warrior who refused to back down, even as his body rebelled. “I think there are two players in the whole world who would have taken to the court today. I’m one of them. And I’m really proud of that,” he added, highlighting his resolve.
Zverev’s 2025 season has been a rollercoaster. A finalist at the 2024 French Open and a gold medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he entered Hamburg as a favorite, carrying the weight of defending 1300 ranking points from the previous year. His journey to the top has been marked by resilience, from upsetting Roger Federer as a teenager to reaching three Grand Slam finals. Yet, recent months have seen a dip in form, with early exits against players like Francisco Cerúndolo, Arthur Fils, and Matteo Berrettini. The Hamburg loss to Muller, who had never beaten a top-five player, was a stark reminder of his struggles. “I was two points away from winning the match. There’s a lot to be said in my favor,” Zverev noted, reflecting on how close he came despite his condition.
The match itself was a grueling affair. Muller, capitalizing on windy conditions and Zverev’s weakened state, played strategically, extending points to wear down his opponent. “I think I played a solid and good match. But he realized at some point that I wasn’t feeling well and then went on playing the points for as long as possible. That was clever on his part,” Zverev acknowledged. Muller’s tactical underarm serve, though unpopular with the crowd, proved effective, as he noted: “I saw the crowd didn’t like it, but I thought it was a great shot to do at that moment.” The Frenchman’s victory propelled him to the Hamburg quarterfinals against Felix Auger-Aliassime, while Zverev was left to regroup for the French Open, just days away.
Zverev’s decision to compete despite severe illness drew both admiration and skepticism. His history of playing through health challenges, including a 2020 French Open match where he admitted to breathing difficulties and a fever, has sparked debates about player safety and responsibility. “I’ll get healthy first and then see. But nothing will change for me for Paris. I still want to show good tennis there and win a lot of matches,” he declared, undeterred by the setback. His mental fortitude, forged through years of facing pressure as a young prodigy expected to challenge the Big 3, remains a cornerstone of his game.
Off the court, Zverev’s season has been complicated by external pressures, including scrutiny over past domestic abuse allegations, which resurfaced during his 2024 Australian Open semifinal run. Despite these challenges, his focus remains on tennis, with 24 ATP singles titles and a fierce desire to claim his first Grand Slam. As he prepares for Roland Garros, where he reached the 2024 final, Zverev’s Hamburg performance—though a loss—underscored his warrior spirit. With the tennis world watching, his vow to “show good tennis” in Paris signals a champion determined to rise above adversity, one match at a time.
Alexander Zverev’s 2025 Hamburg Open ended in a stunning 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(5) second-round loss to Alexandre Muller, but his post-match revelation stole the spotlight. “For the fact that I threw up 37 times and had a fever of 39.4 degrees all night, that’s actually quite okay,” he said, adding, “I think there are two players in the whole world who would have taken to the court today. I’m one of them. And I’m really proud of that.” The world No. 2’s grit shone through despite the defeat.
Zverev, a 2024 French Open finalist, has struggled this season, with early losses to players like Francisco Cerúndolo and Matteo Berrettini. Defending 1300 ranking points, Hamburg was a chance to regain momentum, but Muller’s tactical play, including a clever underarm serve, prevailed. “I think I played a solid and good match. But he realized at some point that I wasn’t feeling well and then went on playing the points for as long as possible. That was clever on his part,” Zverev noted. Muller celebrated the windy conditions: “It was a great victory, when I won Hong Kong, it’s very important for my confidence.”
Despite the loss, Zverev remains focused on Roland Garros. “I’ll get healthy first and then see. But nothing will change for me for Paris. I still want to show good tennis there and win a lot of matches,” he said. His history of playing through illness, like in 2020, raises questions, but his 24 ATP titles and Olympic gold underscore his resilience. As he eyes a maiden Grand Slam, Zverev’s Hamburg battle, though a defeat, highlights a champion’s unyielding spirit.
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