Alexander Zverev will undergo a medical check on Sunday in Shanghai after injuring his right big toe while closing out his first match at the Rolex Shanghai Masters on Saturday.
The world No. 3 hurt the toe on the first point of the final game, appearing to tweak it during the follow-through of his serve. He briefly sat down courtside, removed his shoe, and received attention from the tour physio, then returned to finish the match, sealing the last game without dropping a point. He remained on court for media duties, greeted fans, and then consulted the physio again.
Assessing the Injury
Zverev said he does not yet know the extent of the injury. An initial look suggested no bone damage, but he has not had imaging, and a soft-tissue issue such as a joint capsule problem has not been ruled out. He plans to speak with doctors to determine next steps and hopes the setback is minor.
Despite the discomfort, a strong serving spell and short points helped him close out the contest swiftly. The 28-year-old’s victory was his 48th of the season. Zverev, a finalist in Shanghai in 2019, is scheduled to face France’s Arthur Rinderknech in the third round. He will be seeking to overturn a five-set defeat from their only previous meeting earlier this year at Wimbledon. He also noted that this has been a challenging year physically and that the last event he played without pain was the Australian Open.
As Zverev prepares for his next match, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how his recovery progresses. The outcome of his medical evaluation could significantly impact his performance in the upcoming rounds of the tournament. Zverev’s resilience and competitive spirit continue to shine through, making him a player to watch in the latter stages of the Rolex Shanghai Masters.