‘I’m completely sick…I SHOULDN’T have played’: Alexander Zverev reveals he has coronavirus symptoms with German suffering 38c temperature overnight before crashing out of the French Open with defeat to Jannik Sinner
- Alexander Zverev was beaten by Jannik Sinner in the French Open fourth round
- Zverev said he could hardly breathe and was completely sick during the night
- The German admitted he should not have played his defeat to Jannik Sinner
Alexander Zverev has shockingly revealed he has coronavirus symptoms but chose to play his match anyway before he crashed out of the French Open.
The German went out in the fourth round of the major after being defeated by Italian Jannik Sinner in four sets.
But speaking to the press after his defeat, the 23-year-old German, wearing a mask, told the press he had a temperature of 38 degrees celsius during the night following his victory against another Italian, Marco Cecchinato, in the previous round.
German star Alexander Zverev has shockingly revealed he has coronavirus symptoms
But the 23-year-old German nevertheless decided to play his fourth-round French Open match
Asked why he had asked the physio to come on court before his 3-6 3-6 6-4 3-6 defeat to Sinner, Zverev replied: ‘No it was nothing wrong but I am completely sick after the match with [Marco] Cecchinato in the night.
Yeah, what can I say? I’m completely sick. I can’t really breathe, as you can hear by my voice. I had fever, you know, as well.
Yeah I’m not in the best physical state, I would say. I think that had a little bit of an effect on the match today.
‘I warmed up today; I shouldn’t have played.’
Zverev was defeated in four sets by Italian Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros as he crashed out
Zverev’s had already had a brush with generally accepted protocols during this coronavirus pandemic, after he breached social distancing to party after the Adria Tour event.
Footage emerged of the world number seven dancing in a club in Monte Carlo in June, which several players including Nick Kyrgios took umbrage with.
Zverev competed at Novak Djokovic’s exhibition event in Belgrade and Croatia in June, where Djokovic, Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki all tested positive for coronavirus.
And speaking to the press afterwards he admitted he had had a fever and was completely sick
The German star released a tweet following the event, stating he deeply apologised ‘to anyone that I have potentially put at risk by playing this tour.
‘I will proceed to follow the self-isolating guidelines advised by our doctors.’
Footage of Zverev flouting social distancing in the club six days later after promising to self-isolate was uploaded by German fashion designer Philipp Plein, who has since removed the frames from his Instagram story.
Nick Kyrgios called Alexander Zverev ‘selfish’ after footage emerged of him partying in Monte Carlo (pictured)
Six days earlier, Zverev had promised fans he was going to self-isolate after competing in Novak Djokovic’s Adria Tour event