Alexander Zverev has sparked curiosity during this year’s Wimbledon as he has been seen using his phone multiple times during matches, despite a general ban on such devices for players.

The key reason behind this exception is Zverev's status as a type 1 diabetic. He has received a medical exemption allowing him to check his glucose levels while competing. The All England Club clarified to BBC Sport that Grand Slam tournaments maintain a list of diabetic players who are permitted to use their phones for health monitoring.

Zverev, who has advanced to the men's singles final, revealed that he carries two phones; one is specifically for glucose monitoring and does not have a SIM card. This setup allows him to easily read glucose levels relayed to his phone screen, eliminating the need for frequent finger-prick checks.

He explained, “That’s why the umpires allow me to check my phone, so I don’t have to poke my finger every changeover.” This exemption is crucial for Zverev, especially after a malfunction during the Halle Open in June, which resulted in him injecting a higher dose of insulin than necessary during his semi-final against Taylor Fritz. He described the experience as feeling “absolutely terrible,” requiring him to consume approximately 350g of sugar to counteract the high insulin dose.

This situation highlights the intersection of sports and health needs, shedding light on how professional athletes manage medical conditions while competing at the highest level.