tennis21 January 2023 04:25| © AFP
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Alexander Zverev © Gallo Images
Alexander Zverev revealed on Saturday he was told he would never be an elite athlete due to having type 1 diabetes, firing him up to prove the doubters wrong.
The German former world No 2, who is on a comeback from tearing ankle ligaments at the French Open last year, was diagnosed aged three with the chronic condition where the body cannot produce insulin.
"My parents were very scared. They were very worried. Mum was crying a lot," he said on Australia's Channel Nine about when he was first diagnosed.
"A lot of parents get intimidated by a lot of doctors who say 'your kid is very limited', which is not the case.
"I always said to the doctors, 'yeah, well, I want to play tennis. That's the only thing I really care about'.
"Some of them said, "No, you have to stop ... there is no way you can be a professional athlete with this kind of illness. There is no way you can play such a hard physical sport.
"This is what really stuck in my mind, made me quite upset, to be honest. I don't think you should set any limits to kids, because I think that is just not fair to them."
Zverev, 25, has gone on to become one of the top players in the world, winning 19 ATP titles and an Olympic gold medal.
Last year, he set up the Alexander Zverev Foundation to help young people to avoid limiting themselves because of the condition.
"That was the goal of my foundation, to send a message out there that you can have a normal life," he told the broadcaster. "You can become anything you want with this kind of illness.
"There are a lot of Olympic gold medallists with diabetes. There are a lot of great footballers in Europe as well. There's really no limit to what you can do."
Zverev admitted he had struggled to accept his condition in the past and tried to hide it from the world, feeling "uncomfortable", but decided to go public last year to help others.
Now, he sometimes administers insulin during matches.
"In matches, you never saw me do a shot or anything like that ... I was going to the bathroom to do it, which is not the right thing to do because you should never be embarrassed of it," he said.
FAQs
Celebrity tennis players
Billy Jean King won 12 Grand Slam singles titles during her career before being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. She is actively fighting to raise awareness about diabetes and has been the spokesperson for the Face of Change campaign.
How much money has Alexander Zverev made? ›
Male tennis players with the highest career earnings as of February 2024 (in million U.S. dollars)
| Characteristic | Prize money earned in million U.S. dollars |
|---|
| Alexander Zverev | 39.95 |
| Daniil Medvedev | 39.3 |
| Stan Wawrinka | 36.65 |
| David Ferrer | 31.48 |
6 more rowsFeb 21, 2024
Zverev was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 3, and has received a TUE that allows him to use insulin to regulate his blood sugar levels.
Does Alexander Zverev have a child? ›
Alexander Zverev has a daughter, whose name is Mayla. She was born on March 11, 2021. As of 2024, Zverev's daughter is 2 years and 11 months old.
Why does Zverev check his blood sugar? ›
Zverev, who reached the quarter-finals of the French Open with a straight-sets victory over Grigor Dimitrov, was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes at the age of three. He needs to take insulin regularly to maintain his blood sugar levels and it is administered with an insulin pen.
Is Zverev a Type One diabetic? ›
Zverev opens up on diabetes condition that made parents 'very scared' Alexander Zverev revealed on Saturday he was told he would never be an elite athlete due to having type 1 diabetes, firing him up to prove the doubters wrong.
Is Carlos Alcaraz rich? ›
According to Forbes, Carlos's on-court earnings reported in 2022 are believed to be $5.9 million. In addition, his off-court earnings are around $5 million, bringing his total to a staggering $10.9 million.
Who is the richest tennis player? ›
Currently ranked No 1 in the world, the Serbian tennis player has won 98 titles in his career to date, winning matches against both Federer and Nadal, and has amassed earnings of nearly US$181 million, per ATP Tour.
Who is the richest tennis played? ›
1 Ion Tiriac – $1.2 billion
Also an Ice Hockey player who went to the Winter Olympics with Romania, Ion Tiriac was a handy tennis player who would later ace it in the business world. He only enjoyed a handful of years of his career in the open era but managed to make his fortune as a businessman in West Germany.
How does Alexander Zverev manage his diabetes? ›
Alexander Zverev needs insulin injections to stay alive. He has Type 1 diabetes (T1D). The condition is no joke. He's become an Olympic champion and warrior athlete despite a serious medical circ*mstance that normally starts with a doctor suggesting ... you might have to quit sport, old mate.
Zverev has suffered from diabetes since being diagnosed with the disease at the age of three — as the 25-year-old revealed in 2022. Despite the player's admission it has not helped officials at the French Open this year from issuing conflicting advice to Zverev over where he can inject his insulin.
What NHL players are diabetic? ›
Ice hockey
- Nick Boynton, former National Hockey League defenseman, type 1.
- Bobby Clarke OC, Philadelphia Flyers (1969–84) and Canada center, sports administrator, type 1.
- Cory Conacher, National Hockey League center (2011–present), type 1.
- B. J. Crombeen, National Hockey League winger (2007–2015), type 1.
Alexander Zverev was born on 20 April 1997 in Hamburg, Germany to Russian parents Irina Zvereva and Alexander Mikhailovich Zverev. His older brother, Mischa, born nearly a decade earlier, was also a professional tennis player. Both of his parents were professional tennis players for the Soviet Union.
Are Zverev and Medvedev friends? ›
Sascha, when he loses, we can find maybe 25 interviews of him where he does say some strange things.” Both players have Russian parents but Medvedev went on to state that the two are not friends.
How many children does Mischa Zverev have? ›
He has been married to Evgenia Zverev since 2017. They have two children.
Are there any professional athletes with diabetes? ›
Jay Cutler, Denver Broncos (2006–2008) and Chicago Bears (2009–2016) quarterback, type 1. Mike Echols, Tennessee Titans (2002–2004) cornerback, type 1. Kendall Simmons, Pittsburgh Steelers (2002–2008) guard, type 1. Chad Muma, Jacksonville Jaguars, linebacker, type 1.
Can athletes have type 2 diabetes? ›
Anyone can develop type 2 diabetes, including athletes. Although exercise is an important prevention measure, body weight and the quality of a person's diet also play a role . Additionally, some nonmodifiable factors, such as a family history of diabetes, may increase the risk.
Can you still play sports with type 2 diabetes? ›
Students with diabetes can play sports and exercise at the same level as anyone else. Just like most kids and teens, they're healthier if they get plenty of exercise, which can help them manage the disease. Coaches should: know the symptoms of high blood sugar and low blood sugar.
Can athletes play with diabetes? ›
People with diabetes shouldn't exercise if they have high levels of ketones in their blood because this can make them really sick. If you have type 1 diabetes, your doctor will tell you how to check for ketones (you may need to take a urine test before exercising) and treat yourself to get back on track.
