Zverev unharmed after plane to Paris struck by lightning
German tennis player Alexander Zverev in action against US' Aleksandar Kovacevic during their men's singles round of 32 tennis match of the Hamburg European Open. Frank Molter/dpa
German tennis star Alexander Zverev hopes his grand slam luck has changed after his plane heading to the French Open was struck by lightning.
He was dumped out of his home Hamburg Open this week in the last 16 amid a stomach virus and more drama followed as he tried to reach Paris for the clay grand slam, which starts on Sunday.
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"After take-off, there was a lightning strike on the plane and we had to return to Hamburg and make an emergency landing," Zverev told reporters.
"It seemed pretty funny because there was only a little noise, no real shaking or anything. It was the first time I'd been struck by lightning in the air."
Zverev arrived in Paris late and on a different plane, but does not play his first-round match against the American Learner Tien until Tuesday.
"It's not an injury, but a stomach virus. It will go away, then I'll feel OK again. I hope to be 100% fit," he added.
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Zverev has yet to win a grand slam singles title and lost last year's French Open final in five sets to Carlos Alcaraz. His clay form this season has been mixed.
"The first matches will be important for me, that's for sure," added the world number three.
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