Alexander Zverev Hopes to be First Player with Diabetes to Win a Grand Slam

Alexander Zverev to open his campaign at the Mexican Open against Corentin Moutet.

Alexander Zverev Hopes to be First Player with Diabetes to Win a Grand Slam

Alexander Zverev (image via X/Tennis World USA)

Alexander Zverev has won an Olympic gold medal, two ATP Finals, and reached three Grand Slam finals but is still without a major trophy he craves for. The 28-year-old had never hidden his intentions of winning a Grand Slam before he retires but he has to battle with his health and on the court to achieve the dream.

Zverev has lived with Type 1 diabetes since the age of four. The German star often takes insulin regularly to manage the conditions of his body while going through the daily routine of an athlete. In 2023, a controversy erupted that he had stopped taking insulin injections on the court but he has clarified that he still takes it.

In 2022, he officially launched a foundation in partnership with his brother Mischa and his parents Irina and Alexander Zverev Sr. Together they created the Alexander Zverev Foundation to support people living with diabetes. The foundation focuses especially on children, providing access to insulin and other medical care in developing countries.

It also runs tennis and ski camping to encourage healthy and active lifestyles for children who live with diabetes but aim to be athletes. Recently, the foundation revealed that it has raised nearly $11 million to support children with Type 1 diabetes. Despite being a diabetic patient, Zverev has continued to dream big in tennis.

A Grand Slam is the only silverware missing in his cabinet. He last reached a major final last year at the Australian Open in Melbourne before losing to Jannik Sinner in straight sets. The 28-year-old revealed during his press conference at the Acapulco Open that he aims to set an example by becoming the first player win a Grand Slam with diabetes:

Since childhood, I had to balance diabetes with sports. For many years, I preferred not to talk too much about the topic, but after my injury at Roland Garros, I had time to think and realized that it was important to help others through my example. Nothing lasts forever in life, not even tennis, so I am determined to fully enjoy what I do. Since childhood, diabetes did not prevent me from dreaming of being the first tennis player in history to win a Grand Slam with this disease.

Zverev has played in just one tournament this season and that was at the Australian Open in Melbourne. He reached the semi-finals of the tournament before crashing out after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in five sets. The German star opted to take a long rest rather than defending his Argentina Open and Rio Open points.

Alexander Zverev’s handed a tough draw at the Mexican Open

Alexander Zverev is the top seed at the Mexican Open, which will be his first tournament since the Australian Open, where he reached the semi-finals. The World No.4 will have less competition at the ATP 500 tournament after Ben Shelton and Lorenzo Musetti withdrew from the tournament last week.

Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev (via ATP Tour)

Despite several of Zverev’s competitors withdrawn out of the tournament, he will face Corentin Moutet in the opening round. Moutet enjoyed the best season of his career last year, obtaining an incredible top 10 wins over Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune. However, Zverev holds an overwhelming 2-0 lead in their head-to-head record.

Both of their meetings came last year. However, Zverev is projected to face Miomir Kecmanović in the second round with Cameron Norrie, Grigor Dimitrov, and Casper Ruud all in the same half of the draw with him. Jack Draper is also going to make his first appearance on tour since the US Open at the tournament.

Nonetheless, Zverev will.be making his eighth appearance at the Mexican Open and has not had an amazing record at the event. He won the tournament just once in 2021 after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final. Last year, he crashed out in the round of 16 after losing to Learner Tien in straight sets.

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