ATP: After second wrist surgery: Cedrik-Marcel Stebe fights for his comeback

After his second wrist surgery, Cedrik-Marcel Stebe works hard for his comeback on the professional tour.

The picture Stebe recently posted on Instagram and Twitter could not have been more symptomatic. The former Davis Cup player was on a climbing wall and still had a course ahead of him that should not be underestimated.

In the figurative sense: The way back to old strength is stony after two operations on the right wrist within six months and demands some patience and stamina from the 28-year-old.

However, Stebe smiled on the photo, he radiated optimism. “I’m working on the right wrist power,” wrote “Cedi.” As a result of the long pause, he crashed from 82nd place at the beginning of the year to 1024th position in the world rankings.

Immediately after the second intervention in July, the left-hander had already suspected that the season had run for him and said: “I’m focusing on 2019. I want to be 110 percent ready to compete at a top level again.”

Stebe was already affected by the problems at the Australian Open in January 2018. The clear defeat in Melbourne against his compatriot Maximilian Marterer was his last match on the professional tour so far. This year, the blond guy from Mühlacker has only played two games. The first surgery took place in February.

Already in the past Stebe, who had reached his best ATP ranking so far in February 2012 with rank 71, often had to struggle with injuries. After his Davis Cup debut six years ago, he stopped back pain, pubitis, lumbar spine problems and groin surgery.

He did not return to the Tour until 2016 and celebrated his comeback in the German Davis Cup team in Portugal in September 2017.