ALEXANDER ZVEREV is playing with HOLES in his toenails thanks to a gruesome injury.
The German, 26, revealed he gets blood stuck under the toenails after stunning Carlos Alcaraz during his Australian Open run.
GettyAlexander Zverev has holes in his toenails[/caption]
GettyThe holes allow blood and fluid to drain out[/caption]
And then his brother gave further details – including the fact the doctors have made gaps in them to allow fluid to drain out.
The controversial No6 seed – who was voted into the ATP player council despite facing an upcoming domestic abuse trial – said: “I have a lot of blood under my toenails so that’s quite painful.
“I take them out every single match but then obviously when you’re playing and running a lot, they came back.
“You know what, I would much rather feel the way I’m feeling right now with maybe a bit of pain here and there and be in the semi-finals, rather than be at home right now and watching the tournament.”
It is thought diabetic Zverev is struggling with a condition called Tennis Toe.
That is where blood collects under the toenail, usually in the big toe, due to repetitive pressure on the nail when the toe is repeatedly jammed against the front of a shoe.
Zverev needed a medical timeout during the four-set victory over Alcaraz on Wednesday to get treatment on his troublesome toes.
Zverev’s older brother Mischa, also a tennis pro, added to Eurosport ahead of the semi-final against rival Daniil Medvedev: “We saw he was practising, no issues he was moving well.
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
“It’s not really blistered, there is just blood underneath the toenail.
“We had to put a little hole in the toenail so that the blood and the fluids come out and now he’s actually playing with holes in his toenails.
“We are trying to make sure that there are not too many fluids that can gather under the toenails so we have to release the pressure and tape it up but he is looking good so he should be ready.”
What is Tennis Toe?
TENNIS TOE is where a damaged toe causes blood to collect under the toenail.
It is a common injury for athletes when the toe repeatedly jams into the end of the shoe and can be extremely painful.
The toe getting injured time and time again means they bleed and the blood pools under the nail so it appears red or even black.
It is usually the big toe that suffers the most trauma.
Source: foot-pain-explored.com