ATP Cup: Germany’s Alexander Zverev cops painful bluebottle sting ahead of Australian Open
Alexander Zverev’s nightmare start to the Aussie summer – following a hat-trick of ATP Cup defeats – has turned ugly, with the German star left rattled after a nasty run-in at the beach.
Tennis
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Already in pain following his poor performances at the ATP Cup, German star Alexander Zverev’s Queensland stay got worse on Thursday when he was stung by a bluebottle on the Gold Coast.
At the beach with his German teammates trying to relax following his losses to Australia’s Alex de Minaur, Canada’s Denis Shapovalov and Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas at Pat Rafter Arena, world No.7 Zverev was struck with panic when stung on the ankle by the ocean menace at Burleigh.
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Fortunately for Zverev, Jeff Horn’s media man and former lifesaver Sean Lawson was walking along at the beach with his son at the same time.
“I’m always dealing with ‘The Hornet’ but it was a different kind of sting today,” said North Burleigh Surf Club member Lawson.
“He (Zverev) thought he had been beaten by a jellyfish.
“They were concerned with what it was, but we got the tentacles off and poured some warm water on the sting.
“I told him the pain should go away after about 10 minutes, and it did, and he was grateful.”
Originally published as ATP Cup: Germany’s Alexander Zverev cops painful bluebottle sting ahead of Australian Open