Alexander Zverev Withdraws from Wimbledon

Top Seed Out with Injury

Wimbledon Suffers Blow with Zverev Withdrawal

Alexander Zverev, the world number three, has withdrawn from Wimbledon due to an ankle injury, dealing another blow to the tournament after Dominic Thiem and Eugenie Bouchard also pulled out. The German, who has never gone beyond the third round at Wimbledon, was one of the favorites for the title this year. Zverev's withdrawal means that the top three seeds in the men's singles draw have all pulled out, leaving Rafael Nadal as the clear favorite. However, the Spaniard is also struggling with injury and has not played a match since the French Open. Zverev's injury is a major setback for the German, who was hoping to improve on his best Grand Slam result of a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open in 2020. The 25-year-old has been in good form this season, winning the Madrid Open and reaching the final of the Italian Open. Zverev's withdrawal is also a blow to Wimbledon, which is already facing criticism for its decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from the tournament. The All England Club has defended its decision, saying that it is in line with UK government policy. However, the decision has been met with criticism from many players, including Zverev. The German said that he believes the ban is "unfair" and that it will "hurt the sport."