"Man, sometimes you’ve got to take care of yourself": Alexander Zverev's classy advice to injured opponent Francisco Cerundolo
ATP
Alexander Zverev had some classy words for his colleague Francisco Cerundolo after he retired with an injury in the middle of their match at the Canadian Open. The world No. 3 advanced to the quarterfinals, capitalizing on the physical problems of the Argentine, who retired shortly after the second set began.
It was a challenging match for Zverev, against an opponent who had beaten him in all three of their previous encounters. Days earlier, Sascha revealed in an interview with Nothing Major that Cerundolo is one of the most "annoying" rivals for him to face, admitting that he had not yet found a way to beat him.
Toronto became the setting for a rematch this Saturday, where Zverev had to recover from a break down in the first set. Cerundolo took an early lead, going up 3-1, but soon after, the physical issues began for the Argentine. Cerundolo had taken the court with kinesiology tape on his abs, and by the fifth game, he received physiotherapy treatment in a medical timeout.
Cerundolo retires, Zverev's sportsmanship shines
Cerundolo had started the match in great form, but little by little his level dropped as the physical discomfort appeared. After the world No. 24 took a 3-1 lead, Zverev won six of the next seven games. Cerundolo was unable to serve with acceleration due to the pain and also couldn't comfortably hit his forehand, arguably the biggest weapon in the Argentine's game.
During a changeover at 5-4—as Zverev was getting ready to serve for the set—the German was seen talking to Cerundolo, who was clearly struggling. The German consoled his colleague before winning the set 6-4. Cerundolo started the second set but, clearly hampered on his serve, ended up retiring once Sascha got the break. "I'm sorry, I cannot play," Cerundolo can be heard telling the umpire as he walked to the net to greet his colleague, and the two parted with a warm embrace.
"He's an incredible player, he's an incredible person. I have a very close and good relationship with him," Zverev commented after the match concluded with a score of 6-4, 1-0, giving him a spot in the quarterfinals. "I saw that he’s extremely upset at five-four, and of course, I know that [with] an abdominal injury, you can’t serve, you can’t really accelerate on your forehand, and there’s nothing much you can do."
"So I saw that, you know, he almost had tears in his eyes and I wanted to just talk to him and he said that the only reason he wants to keep playing is for the people," the three-time Grand Slam finalist added. "I told him, look, man, sometimes you’ve got to take care of yourself, because, you know, an abdominal injury can go very quickly from a few days to a few months, and I definitely don’t want to see him out for a few months."
"I definitely want to see him on tour and do well because he’s having an incredible season. I have so much respect for him. He’s an incredible guy. He beat me three times before that, and I don’t have a single bad word to say about him," Zverev concluded.
Match Statistics Zverev vs. Cerundolo
| Zverev | VS | Cerundolo |
|---|---|---|
| Service | ||
| 3 | Aces | 1 |
| 1 | Double Faults | 3 |
| 72% (21/29) | 1st Service Percentage | 83% (29/35) |
| 76% (16/21) | 1st Service Points Won | 52% (15/29) |
| 38% (3/8) | 2nd Service Points Won | 33% (2/6) |
| 50% (1/2) | Break Points Saved | 25% (1/4) |
| 80% (4/5) | Service Games | 50% (3/6) |
| Return | ||
| 48% (14/29) | 1st Return Points Won | 24% (5/21) |
| 67% (4/6) | 2nd Return Points Won | 63% (5/8) |
| Other | ||
| 0h 52m | Match Duration | 0h 52m |
Read also
Zverev advances to quarterfinals, will face defending champion Popyrin
Meanwhile, Zverev guaranteed his place in the Canadian Open quarterfinals and improved his 2025 record to 38-14. The tournament's first seed will now face the defending champion Alexei Popyrin, who has had a flawless tournament, eliminating Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune along the way.
Sascha also knows what it's like to win the title in Canada, having been champion in 2017 after defeating Roger Federer in the final. This time, the German is looking to win his eighth Masters 1000 title and will face a tough challenge against the Australian, against whom he has a favorable 3-0 H2H record.
Match Info:
Alexander Zverev - Alexei Popyrin
Start time (local): Not scheduled yet
Start time (your time): Not scheduled yet
Tournament: National Bank Open Presented by Rogers
Round: Quarterfinal
Head-to-Head
| Zverev | Popyrin | |
|---|---|---|
| H2H Record | ||
| Total Wins | 3 | 0 |
| Win Streak | 3 | 0 |
| Ranking | ||
| Official Ranking | 3 | 26 |
| Race Ranking | 4 | 55 |
| Live Ranking | ||
| Live Ranking | 3 | 19 (+7) |
| Live Race Ranking | 3 (+1) | 43 (+12) |
| Bios | ||
| Age | 28 (20 Apr 1997) | 25 (5 Aug 1999) |
| Birthplace | Hamburg, Germany | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Residence | Monte Carlo, Monaco | Australia |
| Height | 6'5" (198cm) | 6'5" (196cm) |
| Weight | 198lbs (90kg) | 170lbs (77kg) |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned Pro | 2013 | 2017 |
| Coach | Alexander Zverev Sr. | Neville Godwin, Wayne Ferreira (2025–),, Xavier Malisse (−2025) |
| YTD W/L | 33-14 (70%) | 14-16 (47%) |
| YTD Titles | 1 | - |
| Career Titles | 24 | 3 |
| Prize Money | US $ 53,764,389 - 5th all-time in earnings | US$ 7,928,324 |
| Past Meetings | ||
|
A Zverev d A Popyrin Olympic Tournament - Round of 167-5 | 6-3 31 Jul 2024 |
||
|
A Zverev d A Popyrin ATP Acapulco - Round of 326-3 | 6-3 27 Feb 2019 |
||
|
A Zverev d A Popyrin ATP Basel - Round of 166-4 | 6-4 25 Oct 2018 |
||
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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