Alexander Zverev calls physio mid-game in huge Shanghai Masters injury scare

Alexander Zverev sparked concern when he picked up an injury while serving for a spot in the third round of the Shanghai Masters. The No. 3 seed was leading qualifier Valentin Royer 6-4 5-4 and hit a winning serve when he suddenly doubled over in pain.

Commentators were baffled as the umpire immediately called the physio to the court in the middle of the game while Zverev limped to his bench and explained that something happened to his toe.

“What’s happened here? He’s immediately started hobbling?” Arvind Palmer said on commentary as the chair umpire asked Zverev what was going on.

“Tie, I think I heard him say. This is not good,” Palmer continued. “I don’t think the crowd realise what has happened,” co-commentator Barry Cowan replied as Zverev headed to his bench.

The umpire got on his walkie-talkie, asking for assistance. “We need the physio on Stadium court for Zverev. We stopped playing. For a right foot injury,” he said.

The No. 3 seed waited at his bench until the physio arrived, and explained: “I jumped on my serve, landed, and now I can’t step on my big toe. Just landed normally, nothing out of the ordinary.”

The physio tried to test Zverev’s toe, prodding it and asking the German star where he felt pain. He also offered to tape it up, but Zverev decided to play on.

He put his shoe back on without any taping and returned to the court to serve out the match. The toe didn’t appear to bother Zverev too much, and he served it out to love, winning 6-4 6-4.

At the net, Royer sent his well-wishes to Zverev after the sudden injury scare. The physio returned for a quick chat when the 28-year-old sat on his bench at the end of the match, and Zverev planned to head to the training room after leaving the court.

The world No. 3 still doesn’t know what the issue is, and whether he will be ready for his third-round match against Arthur Rinderknech.

Immediately after the match, Zverev said: “I don’t know, I landed funny on my toe and then after that, barely could do a step, so we’ll see what it is.

“Not happy to end the match like that, of course, but definitely happy with the level in the first round of the Masters, that was quite good, I think. He’s playing very well, moving forward, seeing if I’ll ever be healthy again this year because it’s been a struggle! Happy to be through.”