Written by Richard Pagliaro | @Itenisi_Manje | Thursday, October 3, 2024
Photo credit: Corleve/Mark Peterson
Alexander Zverev he has not fully recovered from the bout with pneumonia that forced him to leave Beijing.
The world No. 2 is committed to playing in the Rolex Shanghai Masters—and pursuing his 2024 goal.
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“I still have it [pneumonia]it hasn’t disappeared in a week,” Alexander Zverev told the Rolex Shanghai Masters website. “It will take a few months for it to completely disappear.
“I take medicine, with medicine. But the problem was during the Laver Cup, I felt really bad. And I had a high fever and I was vomiting a little so I wasn’t well enough.”
Zverev said he still suffers from fatigue at times, but feels better and is ready to play in Shanghai.
“They said it’s something that won’t make the recovery process long,” Zverev said. “As long as I don’t feel as scared again as I did. It’s not something I can make easier or worse. As long as it’s what the doctors say, I’m ready to play and give it my all.
“It’s a good thing that it’s three sets here with a rest day in between – that helps. It’s not going as well in five as in New York. I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”
Former Olympic gold medalist Zverev said his goal is to finish 2024 as world number 2.
“I think before the US Open the number one spot was very open this year,” Zverev said. “But I think Jannik was successful by winning Cincinnati and the US Open respectively.
“So I think finishing second in the world would be a big achievement for me. It would be something I’ve never done before. So that’s something in my mind, of course, Carlos is playing amazing tennis right now and I expect him to be at his best, if I’m at his best, it’s going to be a tough race until the end.
