Zverev Injects Insulin at Final

Spectators who saw Alexander Zverev pull out a needle during his Wimbledon men's final Sunday weren't watching a fresh controversy. They were seeing routine diabetes care. Up a set and leading 3-2 in the second against Jannik Sinner, the 29-year-old German sat down at the changeover, opened a medical pouch, and injected his leg with what was later confirmed to be insulin. Zverev has lived with Type 1 diabetes since age 4 and manages it during matches with both injections and a glucose monitor linked to his phone—hence his rare permission to use a mobile courtside despite the standard ban, the Independent reports.

Grand Slam tournaments maintain a list of diabetic players who are exempted for medical monitoring. On the BBC's coverage, analyst Andre Agassi noted that Zverev doesn't "claim victim" over the condition. The system isn't foolproof: a faulty sensor reading at June's Halle Open led Zverev to take too much insulin and feel "absolutely terrible," forcing him to consume about 350 grams of sugar during that match. He said later it was the first time a sensor had acted up on him, per the AP. "It was very unfortunate for me that it happened," Zverev said, "but I think as a product, it still is very helpful for millions of diabetes patients."