World number two,
Alexander Zverev, believes that his lungs
are not working 100 per cent after suffering from pneumonia earlier this year.
The 27-year-old is currently in Turin, Italy to participate in the
ATP Finals.
The last major event in the men’s tennis calendar began on
Sunday, where the top eight players are participating to showcase their talent
and secure the ultimate prize. Zverev began his campaign on Monday with a win
against Russia’s Andrey Rublev in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-4. Talking
after the match, the Hamburg-born star revealed that his lungs are still not
working 100 percent after suffering pneumonia in September earlier this year
just before the Laver Cup.
"I ended up in hospital before the Laver Cup when I had
a fever of 40 degrees celsius for three days in a row and at some point I felt
like I couldn't breathe," he said. "I'm getting tired a bit more
quicker. But I'm feeling okay. Which doesn't mean that my lungs are 100 per
cent but right now I feel fit again.”
After suffering from pneumonia, Zverev withdrew from the
China Open but returned to the court in the Shanghai Masters, where he was knocked
out after losing in the round of 16 to Belgium’s David Goffin in straight sets with
a score of 6-4, 7-5. However, he returned to his very best soon after as he
lifted the Paris Masters after beating France’s Ugo Humbert in the final in
straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2. Zverev’s next clash will be up against
world number three and four-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard
suffered a surprising defeat in the tournament opener against Norway’s Casper
Ruud in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 7-5. This will be the 11th
meeting between the two players. In the previous 10 meetings, both players
emerged victorious on five occasions each.