Alexander Zverev Was Nervous Due to Pressure of Being Favorite After Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic’s French Open Exits

Alexander Zverev continued to lie whenever asked whether Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic‘s early exits added extra pressure on him, because he was then the top seed and the heavy favorite for Roland Garros. Zverev said he was focusing on the controllable, that is, his matches.

But now that Roland Garros is done and dusted and Sascha was finally crowned as the Grand Slam champion for the first time in his career, he admitted that Sinner and Djokovic’s defeats indeed made him extremely nervous, so much so that he struggled to sleep.

No. I told myself that I was taking it one match at a time and only focusing on the things I could control. But even if I have my phone off and don’t read anything, you still hear about it, of course—that those two are out. That made me nervous. I didn’t sleep at all that night.

Alexander Zverev said during his interview with BILD

Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion, pulled out before the start of the tournament because of a wrist injury. Heat exhaustion and cramps saw Sinner lose to Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round despite needing just a game win in the third set to win the match. And a day later, Joao Fonseca overcame a two-set deficit to knock out Djokovic in the third round.

I knew that suddenly, out of the three big favorites, I was the last one left in the draw. Suddenly, this was my huge chance to win my first Grand Slam—one I could win and perhaps had to win. It was an incredibly stressful week with an unbelievable amount of pressure. I felt uncomfortable at times, but I coped with it and managed it incredibly well.

Alexander Zverev added

Cerundolo ended Sinner’s 30-match winning streak. Had Sinner won, he would have become the seventh man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam.

In the final, Zverev clinched a five-set win over first-time Grand Slam finalist Flavio Cobolli. It was his fourth final in Majors after the 2020 US Open (lost to Dominic Thiem), 2024 French Open (Alcaraz beat him), and the 2025 Australian Open (Sinner beat him).

Alexander Zverev on winning Roland Garros while living with diabetes

Alexander Zverev is the first tennis player with Type 1 diabetes to win a Grand Slam title. One of the reasons he wanted to win the Major badly was also to show the world that even people living with diabetes can achieve great things.

It’s a sign for parents and children out there that you can achieve anything with diabetes. I’ve spoken about it often, but now I’ve proven it. Talking is one thing; showing it is another. I have this condition, and now there’s someone they can touch, someone who’s been through it all.

Alexander Zverev told BILD

After Zverev reached the French Open final, Stuttgart Open confirmed that the World No.3 has pulled out of the tournament. Last year, he lost to Taylor Fritz in the final. Grass is the only surface where the 29-year-old has never won a title. He has so far played three finals on grass.

Also, Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam where he has never advanced to the quarterfinals. He has played the fourth round twice, while last year, he suffered a five-set defeat at the hands of Arthur Rinderknech in the first round.

Jannik Sinner will be competing as the defending champion. He defeated Carlos Alcaraz last year. But the Spaniard, who also played the final in the previous three seasons, will be skipping the tournament. He beat Novak Djokovic in 2023 and 2024.

Also read: Youngster Rafael Jodar Aims to Continue His Clay-Court Form at Wimbledon