Alexander Zverev has dropped outside of the top 10 in the ATP rankings, having been a permanent fixture there for five years and three months, following the devastating ankle injury he sustained at Roland Garros in June.
The German No. 1 suffered the season-ending injury against Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals of the French Open this spring. Zverev was pushing Nadal hard in a match that very much hung in the balance for the Spaniard, before rolling his ankle and needing to leave the court on crutches.
It was a cruel blow for the double ATP Finals champion, who stood at World No. 3 on the rankings at the time and looked most likely out of the younger crop below the Big Three to push on and clinch his first major.
However, understandably, his ranking has plummeted since the injury. After a slight fluctuation to No. 2 as a result of ranking movement in and around the top five spots, Zverev's position started to slide over the course of the rest of the season.
Having fallen outside the top 5 by the start of October, the former World No. 3 has now seen since ranking number doubled to No. 12 in the world.
However, the 25 year-old German is nearing a return to competitive action and recently gave his fans a much-needed boost by confirming that he will play in Dubai in the World Tennis League tournament in December.
"I am very happy to be back on court, also excited to be finally start competing in December and be back in Dubai at the World Tennis League," Zverev said three days ago.
Following that, the 19-time singles titlist will have the off-season training block to get in shape for next season and the build-up to the Australian Open in January.
It will be a huge boost for the ATP and tennis fans alike to have him back on court.
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