Tennis Olympic champion Alexander Zverev is planning his comeback this year after his serious foot injury.

Although the German number one will not play for Germany in the Davis Cup finals in Malaga later this month, the 25-year-old wants to take part in some show events in December.

"He just needs a few matches before the new season," said his brother Mischa Zverev in an Instagram live at Eurosport.

"That's why we registered for a few exhibition tournaments," said the manager of the Hamburger.

Participation in the Diriyah Tennis Cup in Saudi Arabia (December 8th to 10th) and the World Tennis League in Dubai (December 19th to 24th) are planned.

Great destination Australia

If everything goes according to plan with these appearances, Zverev wants to take part in the new United Cup in Australia after Christmas.

In the team competition (December 29, 2022 to January 8, 2023) men and women play together.

Germany's best tennis player Jule Niemeier has also announced that she wants to compete there.

"Of course he can't miss that," said Mischa Zverev about his brother's planned participation.

The big goal is the Australian Open, which starts on January 16, 2023.

Dropped out of top 10

Alexander Zverev suffered a serious foot injury in early June in the semifinals of the French Open against Rafael Nadal and has not played a match since.

Zverev had to postpone a planned comeback at the Davis Cup in Hamburg in September after a health setback.

He has at least been back on the training ground since the beginning of November.

Zverev fell out of the top 10 of the ATP world rankings on Monday after more than five years of permanent membership.

After the Masters tournament in Paris, he lost six places and is now in twelfth place.

On July 31, 2017, Zverev was among the top ten in the world for the first time.

The native of Hamburg achieved his best result as second in the world rankings in the week after his injury in Roland Garros.

The Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who had to give up injured in the quarterfinals of the tournament in Paris and had to end the season, remains the world number one, ahead of his compatriot Nadal.

Paris winner Holger Rune from Denmark climbed eight places with his first Masters triumph and is in the top 10 for the first time in tenth place.