Alexander Zverev sure knows how to keep his fans hooked! Whether it’s those jaw-dropping rallies or his bullet-speed serves, the German star never fails to deliver some serious tennis magic. But hold on—it’s not just his skills on the court that have fans buzzing. There’s one quirky habit that keeps everyone talking: his frequent trips to his kit bag mid-match. It’s become a bit of a Zverev trademark and even Grand Slam events have been witnessing this for a long time.

The German tennis sensation is on a stellar run at the first Grand Slam of the year. He has advanced to the semi-finals already and will be taking on Novak Djokovic on Friday, to advance further as he attempts to end his Grand Slam drought. But even during the semi-final match, the star player might be seen reaching for his bag to search something. So, what’s he looking for in there? A secret game plan? A lucky charm, perhaps? Well, none!

Zverev often peers into his bag to use the diabetes machine and assess his blood sugar levels. For the unversed, Zverev has been battling Type I diabetes and has struggled because of it ever since he was just three. He opened up about his woes only in 2022, surprising many in the tennis community. Interestingly, he faced accusations several times of using his smartphone to reach out to his coach for suggestions mid-match, a move that is strictly prohibited. However, shutting the critics, Germany’s Davis Cup captain  Michael Kohlmann gave the real reason behind his gestures in 2022.

Speaking to DW, Kohlmann shared, “He’s always checking his blood sugar level then [when he looks into the bag]. I sit right there, and I can see exactly what he’s doing.” Notably, Zverev has also faced immense challenges due to the same reason, with a major highlight coming at the French Open in 2023. 

Zverev revealed that despite expressing his challenges, he was not allowed to use insulin injections on the court. “The officials said I need to leave the court. During my last match, they told me then this would count as a toilet break.” Continuing further, he expressed the challenges he faces due to his illness, especially when the matches are too long. “I replied: ‘Guys, come on! I only have two toilet breaks in a match but in a best-of-five-match sometimes I have to inject four, or five times’.” However, his challenges were soon addressed by the International Tennis Integrity Agency which allowed him to use insulin monitors and insulin injections to regulate his blood sugar levels.

Coming to Alexander Zverev’s upcoming match, the star player is looking quite confident and fresh. Can he beat Novak Djokovic? Well, he definitely aspires to do that.

Alexander Zverev exudes immense confidence ahead of semi-finals

Alexander Zverev is still on a hunt to win his first major title. But the ongoing Australian Open has been quite fascinating for the star player who has lost just two sets en route to the semi-final. And now, as he gears up to face the Serbian Maestro on Friday in the Rod Laver Arena, Zverev is looking quite confident as he has already set up some goals for himself. 

Speaking about his semi-final match, Zverev shared, “I’m going to prepare myself for a tough battle. I’m going to prepare myself for a very intense and high-level match, I know I have the level.” Continuing further, he expressed his desire to pull out a sensational victory against the 24-time Grand Slam winner. 

“I’ve beaten [him] before. Hopefully I can do that again,” Zverev added. Remember, the German has managed to outshine Djokovic on 4 occasions in the 12 encounters they played against each other. Can he secure his 5th victory on Friday? Well, only time will tell.