Zverev cancels Gstaad: mental crisis forces tennis star to take a break!

Zverev cancels Gstaad: mental crisis forces tennis star to take a break!

Alexander Zverev has canceled his participation in the ATP tournament in Gstaad, and the reasons for this are anything but superficial. The cancellation came just one day before the planned draw and was justified by the organizers with “personal reasons”. The clay court tournament starts next Monday. However, Zverev is currently still on the registration list for the event, which further illustrates the uncertainty surrounding his situation. Antenna Münster reports that the 26-year-old player, who has spoken of deep mental issues following his early exit from Wimbledon, is at an emotional low point.

What exactly is Zverev concerned about? It was clear in his comments that he has difficulty finding joy outside of the tennis court. This led him to face various personal and public challenges in recent years. He even admitted that he might consider therapy for the first time in his life. Loud ZDF Zverev feels alone and describes this feeling as extremely unpleasant.

The mental health of athletes is a topic that has become increasingly important in recent times, and not without reason. The stressors that affect competitive athletes are diverse and range from constant public expectations to personal setbacks. According to the Sport Ärzte Zeitung, mental disorders are common among athletes, with 13-20% of competitive athletes developing depression over the course of their lives, which is comparable to the normal population. There is also evidence that precursors such as burnout are also relevant for athletes, which makes talking about mental health urgently necessary Sports Doctors Newspaper.

Zverev recently announced that he would take a few weeks off to focus on his mental health. He plans to return at the Masters 1000 tournament in Toronto at the end of July and hopes to find answers to his inner questions by then. These are steps in the right direction, which sports psychologist Marion Sulprizio also sees as positive. Your assessment: Zverev's openness about his problems is an important contribution to removing the taboo topic of mental health in sport and creating more awareness of how important psychological support is for athletes.

Overall, Alexander Zverev's situation shows that the pressure in professional sports is not only immense physically, but also mentally. A change in the perception and support of athletes is urgently needed to promote their mental fitness and provide long-term solutions.