Alexander Zverev admits his recent health scare was a lot more serious than initially thought as he “ended up in hospital” and faced the prospect of having to call an early end to his 2024 season.
The German enjoyed a fine North American hard-court swing as he reached the semi-final of the Cincinnati Open and quarter-final of the US Open and Canada Open.
But he looked out of sorts during the first two days of the Laver Cup as he was beaten in straight sets by Taylor Fritz while he and Carlos Alcaraz also lost the doubles against Team World’s Fritz and Ben Shelton.
Zverev, though, bounced back on the final day to beat Frances Tiafoe with the result key to Team Europe’s 13-11 victory, but a few days later he withdrew from the China Open as he was diagnosed with pneumonia.
After recuperating the past week, the 27-year-old has decided to return to action at the Shanghai Masters although he admits it will take a while before he is 100% healthy again.
“I have an inflammation in my lung. It’s going to take about two, three months to be completely gone,” he revealed.
“Why I pulled out of Beijing was because I was quite sick. I had quite a high fever during the Laver Cup and after the Laver Cup. I ended up in hospital. I didn’t feel great and just didn’t have the energy to play. I was on antibiotics for a week.”
The two-time Grand Slam finalist added: “I feel better now, but, of course, the issue with my lung is not gone, it’s still there.”
Zverev, who will slip to No 3 behind Carlos Alcaraz in the ATP Rankings following his China Open absence, had a choice of taking the remainder of the season off or battling on.
“I still have a feeling of maybe being a bit more tired than I’m used to, but it’s either I’m going to take the whole season off now or I’m going to play the way I can play,” the German said.
“It’s nothing that will delay the recovery or will make it worse if I play, that’s what the doctor said, and that’s why I’m here (at the Shanghai Masters), and I’m happy to give my 100 per cent of what I have.”
Zverev is the second seed at the Shangai Masters and will face either qualifier Mattia Bellucci or lucky loser Billie Harris in the second round while he is projected to meet Novak Djokovic in the semi-final and either Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz in the final.