Zverev on diabetes: "I can't remember life without the disease".

Alexander Zverev is one of today's top tennis players. Number 2 in the world, he is currently in South America for the Buenos Aires tournament, where he will be the top seed.

The German boasts 23 titles, including 7 Masters 1000 titles, 2 ATP Finals and an Olympic gold medal in singles.

Zverev's ultimate goal is to become world number 1 and win a Grand Slam, having lost three finals in this category.

Diagnosed with diabetes at the age of three, Alexander Zverev talks about his illness in an interview with the Argentinian media Clarin, after setting up his own foundation to help children affected at an early age.

"Starting to play tennis was perhaps my greatest challenge. I've been diabetic since I was very young, and I can't remember life without the disease.

When I was four years old, I didn't know what it meant. I think it was harder for my parents, because it was a shock for them. I always lacked self-confidence about my illness and wanted to hide it.

If, today, some children feel more comfortable because they know I play with diabetes or see me giving injections on the pitch, that makes me proud. And it gives me another reason and another motivation to keep doing what I do.

I think it's a disease we don't talk about much, because in rich countries, living with diabetes isn't really a big problem because you have the necessary medication.

But in less developed countries, if you're diabetic, you don't have the equipment to test yourself, which sometimes means you don't have a chance of surviving.

Knowledge of this disease and how to manage it is very important. And that's why my foundation can help," says Zverev.