Alexander Zverev slams new ATP injection rules after French Open incident

Lindokuhle MbuyisaLindokuhle Mbuyisa6 June 2023
Alexander Zverev at the Monaco Rolex Masters in Monte Carlo

Alexander Zverev at the Monaco Rolex Masters in Monte Carlo

German star Alexander Zverev has hit out at French Open officials for refusing to allow him to take on-court insulin injections during changeovers at the Grand Slam.

Alexander Zverev has slammed court officials at the French Open for refusing him opportunities to take insulin injections.

The incident happened during his fourth round straight set 6-1 6-4 6-3 victory over Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov to book a spot in the quarter-finals.
Zverev, who has Type 1 diabetes, attempted to take his shot of insulin during the changeover of his clash with 29th-ranked Dimitrov but was prevented from doing so by court officials.
The German was then allegedly told to leave the court in order to have his shot, however, he was also informed that it would count as one of his bathroom breaks.
According to new ATP regulations which began in 2021, players are only allowed to have one three-minute bathroom break.
The situation became worse as Zverev attempted to have the injection away from the courtside but was informed that the procedure was only allowed to be done by a doctor.
An upset Zverev then addressed the matter during his post-match press conference, where he did not hold back regarding the conduct of the French Open officials.

"They said I need to leave the court," said the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist.

"During my last match, they told me that this would count as a toilet break. I replied: 'Guys, come on! I only have two toilet breaks in a match but in a best-of-five match sometimes I have to inject four, or five times.

"So I told them that it can not be like this because this would mean that something is not allowed that is necessary for my well-being, for my life."
The former Munich Open winner then revealed that there was a discussion between him and the officials prior to him going off-court to inject himself with insulin to help maintain his energy levels.
"Then a supervisor entered the room that did not know about this and he got panicked and said: 'No, no, you can't do that. A doctor needs to come to inject it.
"I told him that this is a wrongdoing because a normal doctor can't help me if he is not specialized as he does not have the right data about how much I have to inject."

The 26-year-old also clarified that it only takes him five seconds to complete the procedure, which he is willing to complete outside.

"They said it 'looks weird' when I do this on court. But this is not a clever take because if I don't do it, my life will be in danger," concluded Zverev.

The World No.27 will face 23-year-old Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry (Ranked 49th) for a place in the French Open semi-finals at the Phillipe-Chatrier court tomorrow.

READ MORE: French Open: Doubles top seeds Neal Skupski and Wesley Koolhof lose in quarter-final

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