'It is how it is'- Alexander Zverev explains 'tough' US Open withdrawal, says recovery going 'extremely well'

Alexander Zverev has said he could not risk competing at the US Open this year but insisted that his recovery is going extremely well. The 25-year-old has not played since injuring himself during his French Open semi-final against Rafael Nadal in June. Ad The US Open announced on Monday that Zverev had withdrawn from the tournament and now the player has explained his decision in a post on Instagram, saying that he would have been ready were the tournament in «another week or two».

US OpenZverev withdraws from US Open due to ankle injuryYESTERDAY AT 13:59 “The recovery is going extremely well,” said Zverev. “And I am super happy where I am right now. “But unfortunately I will not come to New York this year.

“It was a very tough decision, but the way the recovery is going – and how well everything is going — I just don’t want to take the risk, and play a best-of-five set match as my first match back. “Of course, I will miss it and, of course, I will be watching from far away. “Unfortunately I did not have another week or two where I would have been 100% ready but it is how it is.

“I am looking forward to seeing everybody at the Davis Cup. And I am looking forward to being back as soon as possible.” Zverev has not played since injuring himself towards the second set of his semi-final when he went over on his ankle. He left the court in a wheelchair before returning on crutches, informing the umpire he could no longer continue.

It had been a pulsating semi-final up until that point with the score at 7-6(8) 6-6 in Nadal’s favour, before Zverev withdrew. The German looks to be targeting a return to competitive tennis at the Davis Cup, which begins on September 13. Germany are in Group C alongside France, Australia and