A tale of resilience: Zverev competes at ATP Finals despite imperfect health

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.

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"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.”

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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.