The tennis season may be nearing its end, but the excitement is far from over. With the Laver Cup weekend wrapping up, players and fans are now setting their sights on the highly anticipated Asian Swing. Stakes are high, and every match counts as we inch closer to the season’s final stretch. But in a surprising twist, there’s a bit of a breather for Carlos Alcaraz. The young Spanish star, known for his electric performances, might be feeling a sigh of relief after learning that Alexander Zverev has suddenly withdrawn from the tournament at the Beijing Open.

The German sensation has decided to take a break from the courts after a grueling season so far. This was hinted at by Zverev himself soon after the Laver Cup, where his side, Team Europe, cruised to a sensational victory against Team World. Speaking after the tournament, Zverev said that he would be taking a week off due to his latest performance, which he considered to be subpar. His latest decision may bring some relief to his Spanish counterpart, Alcaraz. 

Zverev was set to contest against Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner and enter the tournament as the second-seeded player. He has demonstrated great results in the tournament in the past as well, advancing to the semi-finals in 2023. Besides, despite losing the past two encounters against Alcaraz, Zverev has maintained an even head-to-head tally at 5-5. In such a situation, his withdrawal from the tournament could prove beneficial for Alcaraz. Zverev’s withdrawal, meanwhile, comes in the backdrop of his rumored health woes that he is facing. 

During his match against Taylor Fritz in the Laver Cup, Zverev looked fatigued and was physically ailing after each extended rally, which kept him on the back foot during the match. Additionally, he dodged questions about his health issues during the post-tournament interviews. Zverev seemed hesitant to provide specifics about his fitness and how it would affect his participation in future events when questioned about it, following his loss at the Laver Cup. “I was muzzled a bit by my management back there, by my brother and Sergej,” Zverev said.

His brother Mischa and manager Sergej Bubka also took a similar stance and opted to remain quiet about the German player’s health. “It’s about a person’s health, and we will not say anything about it,” Mishca said. Zverev also faced some struggles during the Paris Olympics. “I’m a bit sick as you can hear but uh that’s okay um I took you know three days off now from since Paris where did absolutely nothing,” he said ahead of the American swing. Interestingly, Zverev also took a subtle jibe at the scheduling of the tournaments that could have impacted his health. 

“We need to do something” – When Alexander Zverev took a subtle dig at packed calendar

Scheduling challenges have been at the center of debates this year, with several players voicing concerns. The latest to join the fray is German sensation Alexander Zverev, who seems to be struggling with some health issues.

Speaking during the Laver Cup, Zverev said, “I do feel like we need to do something about it,” when quizzed about the packed tennis calendar. “I mean, I’m on the player council, so I do think the ATP is working towards that. It’s not an easy solution but it’s definitely a solution that needs to be made.,” he added. 

For the unversed, Zverev has logged the highest number of hours on the court among all ATP Tour players in 2024. The German star has played 75 matches across 19 events and has spent a total of 172 hours on the courts, per Tennis Majors. The player closest to him is Lorenzo Musetti, who has spent 129 hours on court.

For now, it will be interesting to see how soon Zverev can overcome these challenges and return to the courts. Will his withdrawal benefit the likes of Alcaraz and Sinner? Only time will tell.