Alexander Zverev Feels ‘Fortunate’ to Avoid Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros: “He’s the Best”

After a grueling five-set battle against Flavio Cobolli that lasted over four hours in the French Open final, Alexander Zverev was crowned Grand Slam champion for the first time in his career. And the victory came on the court where, as claimed by the German himself, he experienced the worst and the best moments of his life.

Although Zverev finally tasted Grand Slam glory after three unsuccessful attempts in the final, there have been discussions about what could have happened had Carlos Alcaraz played or had Jannik Sinner not suffered from severe cramps during his second-round match. Sinner and Zverev were projected to meet in the final.

The World No.1 was on the cusp of an easy straight-set win against Juan Manuel Cerundolo, but the physical discomfort he experienced saw him dramatically lose the match in five sets. It was then that his 30-match winning streak, which started at Indian Wells, ended.

And during those unbeaten runs, Sinner clinched his career’s third clay-court title by dismantling Zverev, registering his ninth consecutive win over the German ace. This is why Zverev thinks he was lucky to avoid a Sinner clash in Paris.

Fortunately, I didn’t have to face Sinner at Roland Garros. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to play him – quite the opposite. I hope to do so at Wimbledon. This year, I think I’ve felt comfortable on court against everyone except him. He’s the best. His style of play doesn’t give you a moment’s respite; he attacks you relentlessly and doesn’t let you get into the match.

Alexander Zverev said (H/T: Sky Sports Italia)

Zverev ended the Sinner-Alcaraz duopoly in Grand Slam events because, since the 2024 Australian Open and until this year’s Australian Open, only the World No.1 and the World No.2 tasted success in these events. Alcaraz will be skipping the Wimbledon Championships as well, while Sinner will have the task of defending his title.

He beat Alcaraz last year, denying him the hat-trick of the grass-court Major. Zverev will be hoping to finally reach the quarterfinals.

Alexander Zverev reveals what went through his mind when he had three match points

When Flavio Cobolli won the fourth set through the tie-breaker, many had expected the momentum to shift back and forth during the fifth set as well. But Alexander Zverev, who had experienced cramps during the fourth set, started thinking about his physical discomfort, and this helped him relax a bit as he was then focusing more on playing his tennis and not thinking about the result.

Zverev dominated in the fifth set because all Cobolli could win was just a game. Recently, during his interview with CNBC, Sascha was asked what went through his mind when he had three match points in the decider.

Well, I had three match points, and the first one you saved through a let cord, and I was like, ‘Oh, here we go again. Something’s going to happen.’ But then I won the second match point, and you know, a lot of relief. I couldn’t believe that I won until I saw my box and my team celebrating, my father celebrating, and then I realized, ‘Okay, we did it, and we won we won the title,’ and that’s when everything kind of sank in a little bit.

In his previous three Major finals, Zverev squandered a two-set lead versus Dominic Thiem and lost in five sets in the 2020 US Open final. Carlos Alcaraz beat him in five sets in the 2024 French Open final, while Jannik Sinner breezed past him in the 2025 Australian Open final. The win in Paris did not change his rankings, as he will continue to sit in the third spot, behind Alcaraz and Sinner.

Also read: Rafael Nadal Offers Crucial Backing for Carlos Alcaraz Amid Injury Concerns