A remarkable success at Roland Garros as a diabetic!
Alexander Zverev was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at around the age of three, a condition that requires him to regularly administer insulin injections. While the ATP allowed him to perform these quick injections courtside during tournaments, the organizers of Roland Garros denied him this option in 2023.
Born in Hamburg on April 20, 1997, Zverev is an Olympic champion and a professional German tennis player. He is the second-youngest player in the ATP Top 10 rankings and won the 2018 ATP World Tour Finals, making him the youngest year-end champion of the decade. He is also the only active player outside the Big Four to have claimed three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles. The Big Four see him as their worthy successor: Rafael Nadal considers him a future world number one, while Novak Djokovic hopes he will surpass him. Zverev has accumulated 11 singles and two doubles ATP trophies to date.
Zverev hails from a tennis family; his parents, Irina and Alexander Sr., were professional Soviet tennis players, and his older brother, Mischa, also a pro, reached a career-high ranking of 25. Zverev was a former junior world number one and won the 2014 Australian Open junior title. He quickly transitioned to professional tennis, becoming one of the youngest ATP Challenger Tour champions in 2017. As a teenager, he won two ATP titles and defeated Roger Federer. At age 20, he became the youngest player since Djokovic to debut in the Top 20. In the 2020 Summer Olympics, he won a gold medal in singles.
In 2023, Zverev publicly revealed his diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, a condition that has required him to take insulin injections continuously. While ATP tournaments permitted him to administer his medication courtside, Roland Garros officials required him to do so in the locker room. This caused significant disruptions, as Zverev often needs to inject himself up to five times during a long match. "I asked them why this is considered strange. Do they think I'm doping? The conversation made no sense," he said, expressing his frustration during a press conference.
Zverev also noted that during his match against Frances Tiafoe, the supervisor panicked upon seeing the injection. "They wanted to call a doctor to do it for me, but someone who is not a specialist would not know the correct dosage. I’ve been doing this since I was three years old."
He highlighted the need for clear regulations for players like him, especially at major tournaments. "There's no issue with injecting myself courtside; it only takes a few seconds. But they said it would look strange. In the 21st century, no one should be surprised if someone uses a needle to survive," Zverev remarked. He added that the organizers' approach lacked understanding and sensitivity.
Beyond tennis, Zverev has launched the Alexander Zverev Foundation, which supports children living with diabetes, promotes the prevention of type 2 diabetes, encourages healthy lifestyles, and provides access to insulin and treatment in developing countries. "I want children to chase their dreams, no matter what others say," Zverev said, adding that the foundation is more meaningful to him than any trophy.
Zverev revealed to RTL that he kept his diabetes a secret for years because he didn’t feel complete as a person and feared his opponents would see him as weak. However, he has since embraced his condition, viewing it as part of what makes him who he is. "I’m proud of what I’ve achieved as a diabetic. I want to show the world that this condition doesn’t limit my performance."
As a child, Zverev faced teasing at school due to his medical devices, but his growing success boosted his confidence. Today, he has become a role model for children. Reflecting on his journey, he expressed immense gratitude to his parents, who supported him throughout the past two decades.
Zverev’s accomplishments have made him an inspiration for his peers and young diabetics worldwide. Despite living with an incurable disease, he continues to thrive in professional sports, proving that nothing is impossible. In 2024, he reached the Roland Garros final, finishing second after a grueling three-hour match.
Support for Diabetics in Szeged
In Szeged, Hungary, the Újszeged Health Center actively supports diabetic athletes. The Gellért Leisure Center, with professional backing from the clinic, has launched a specialized diabetes education program led by Ákos Várkonyi, a unique initiative in the region.
For more information or to join the diabetes group, contact:
Forrás: wikipedia,eurosport.hu