tennis
Zverev on physio change: “Needed something new”
Alexander Zverev from Germany in action. photo
© Mathias Schulz/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
For Alexander Zverev, the physiotherapist is one of his closest confidants throughout the tennis year. Before the US Open, the Olympic champion takes a drastic step.
“I just needed something else after seven years,” Zverev justified this step before his opening match at the last Grand Slam tournament of the year on Tuesday. “Physical work is the most personal work. Someone is with you for hours, touches your body, they are closer to you than anyone else. After seven years, I needed a change and maybe he did too.”
The Frenchman Gravil is already in charge of Félix Auger-Aliassime from Canada at the US Open. Seiler comes from the rehabilitation center where Zverev completed his rehabilitation after the serious ankle injury at the French Open in 2022.
“Incredibly grateful”
The 37-year-old Kamke stepped in as an impact partner this spring after ex-professional Ledowskich was temporarily no longer allowed to travel to the USA and the Schengen area. This is now settled.
“We are all incredibly grateful to Tobi,” said Zverev about his Hamburg buddy Kamke. “He ended his career at the end of last year, so you don’t feel like traveling again for 40 weeks a year. It was discussed that he would help out as long as Mischa wasn’t able to travel.” Sky was the first to report the change to the hard court season in North America.
Zverev is trained again in New York by his father Alexander after separating from the former Spanish Sergi Bruguera in May. The 26-year-old will play his opening game on Tuesday (5:00 p.m. CEST) against Australian Aleksandar Vukic.