Just under three weeks ago, he finally achieved the long-awaited success after a series of disappointments. German tennis player Alexander Zverev won a Grand Slam final for the fourth time, and he was unstoppable at the French Open. He is scheduled to compete at another of the four major tournaments, Wimbledon, on Tuesday. However, the world number three revealed an unexpected disadvantage just before the tournament. "I am allergic to grass," admitted the native of Hamburg.

The grass court has not been a favorite surface for the 29-year-old tennis player for a long time. He proves this year after year at Wimbledon, and his best result remains the fourth round, which is a truly unimpressive record for a player of his caliber. Moreover, out of the 25 titles Zverev has won on the ATP tour, none have been on a green court. Currently, the 198 cm tall player is preparing at the All England Club for the first round, where he will face Belgian Alexander Blockx. During one of the training sessions, reporters noticed that the player with the powerful serve was sneezing and coughing, which looked like a common cold.

Zverev surprised everyone with his answer. "I am allergic to grass," he said. "But I feel great. The grass allergy is nothing new to me. I have it every year," continued the champion of the last French Open. The reason why the 2021 Olympic champion decided to talk about his allergy just a few days before the start of Wimbledon is unclear. By the way, the allergy is not the only illness that the former protégé of Ivan Lendl is battling. In 2022, he revealed that he has type 1 diabetes. However, Zverev may go to his least favorite major tournament feeling relaxed. Just under a month ago, he finally won a Grand Slam, and after three unsuccessful finals (US Open 2020, French Open 2024, and Australian Open 2025), he felt a sense of accomplishment.

Zverev believes that winning the Grand Slam will help him psychologically. "I have to be honest with myself: with this title behind me, it's really different. I feel more joy and, in a way, more freedom. But when I'm on the court, I want to do my job and play my best tennis," he revealed. Whether the title from Paris will help the German at Wimbledon, we will find out in the coming days.

sport.cz / gnews.cz