World number two Alexander Zverev has confirmed he will miss the final Grand Slam of the year at the U.S. Open, due to lack of fitness after a long time of treatment for an ankle injury.
According to reports, the U.S. Open organisers the 24-year-old American Stefan Kozlov will replace Zverev in the main draw.
“The recovery is going extremely well. And I am super happy where I am right now. But unfortunately I will not come to New York this year.” Zverev said.
“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.” he added.
The German is anticipated to make his return to competitive play in the middle of September with his involvement in the Davis Cup Finals group stage in Hamburg.
“Of course, I will miss it (the US Open) and, of course, I will be watching it from far away. Unfortunately I did not have another week or two where I would have been 100 per cent ready but it is how it is.” Zverev said
“I am looking forward to seeing everybody at the Davis Cup. And I am looking forward to being back as soon as possible.” Zverev added.
Zverev was forced to leave the court in a wheelchair after retiring from his clash with Nadal at Roland Garros after spraining his right ankle before the second set tie-break and is working on getting back in after surgery to repair ligament broken.
Since his 2015 debut, Zverev has played in 27 successive Grand Slam tournaments before injury ruled him out of Wimbledon earlier this summer.
Zverev, runner-up to Dominic Thiem at the 2020 US Open, reached the semifinals last year when he lost to Novak Djokovic in a five-set.
