Despite growing fears Alexander Zverev may miss the US Open due to injury, the German has not ruled out being back in time.
What with his recent withdrawal from both the 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati, there are more and more question marks over when Alexander Zverev will be ready to come back to the tour.
Following his horror ankle injury at this season's French Open, the German has been spending months recovering, trying to get back to full fitness before testing it out on a competitive court.
He has been prioritising not rushing back onto the scene, with him wanting to make sure that he feels in a position ready to compete, rather than simply make up the numbers.
However, there could be good news on the horizon for tennis fans, with Zverev recently coming out to give hope of a potential return to action in time for the US Open.
Explaining how his legs still need some more preparation time before returning back to matches, the German said:
"Of course I will still try to make the US Open. Although it will be very, very close. Maybe I could say I'm ready. Best-of-five is difficult. Every day it really gets better. That's why I don't want to say yet that I won't play the US Open."
He raises an important point as, should he return for the season-finale Grand Slam, he would be throwing himself in at the deep end what with him having to compete in best-of-five set matches.
And having recently pulled out of would-be warm-up events, he may not be in a position ready to commit to such a gruelling format. However, one thing for sure is that the 2020 finalist will do everything in his power to be back gracing the courts in New York.