Alexander Zverev Opens Up About Joy of Winning Career’s First Grand Slam Title at Roland Garros: “I Can Relax a Bit”

Alexander Zverev was on the cusp of winning the 2020 US Open as he was two sets to love up against Dominic Thiem. But in the end, the match ended in favor of the retired Austrian player in five sets.

Zverev got another chance to win his career’s first Major, this time at the 2024 French Open. But up against him was a now seven-time Grand Slam champion, Carlos Alcaraz. Zverev lost that match in five sets.

Then in the Australian Open final last year, Jannik Sinner stood on the other side of the net. Zverev suffered a straight-set heartbreak and broke down in tears during the trophy presentation.

But this year at the French Open final, Zverev finally heaved a sigh of relief after beating Flavio Cobolli. Before that triumph, he was called one of the best players in the world to have never clinched a Grand Slam title. But now, he has shed that name tag.

I had to win that final. Cobolli is a great player, no doubt about it. He’s a fantastic person. I’m 29 years old; I don’t know how many more opportunities I would have had. Plus, so many years had passed… It was the only piece missing for me, because I’ve won at every level in the world of tennis. I’ve won Olympic gold, ATP 250s, ATP 500s, Masters 1000s… The only thing I was missing was the Grand Slam title. Now that I have it, I can relax a bit.

Alexander Zverev said during his interview with Knossi

Zverev ended the Sinner-Alcaraz duopoly in Major finals, as the World No.1 and the World No.3 clinched every Grand Slam title since the 2024 season until the German’s triumph in Paris.

Alcaraz did not play because he was nursing a wrist injury, while Sinner suffered physical setbacks during the second round and eventually lost to Juan Manuel Cerundolo in five sets. The following day, Novak Djokovic lost in five sets to Joao Fonseca in the third round.

Alexander Zverev says he values his Olympic gold medal more than the French Open

Before his French Open triumph, Alexander Zverev had already collected titles at every category, and this also includes an Olympic gold medal. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Zverev beat Russia’s Karen Khachanov 6–3, 6–1 in the final.

It was Zverev’s first appearance in the quadrennial tournament. Zverev admitted during that interview with Knossi that winning the gold medal brought stronger emotions compared to his French Open win.

There is nothing better than this. You are not only playing for yourself, you are playing for your country, for the whole of Germany. It is an incredible feeling. I don’t want to sound arrogant, but I always knew that I could win a big title, but to do it here at the Olympics, the biggest sporting event in the world, is just special. This gold medal is for everyone back home.

Zverev was last seen in action in the Wimbledon final. Although he took the first set off Jannik Sinner, Zverev eventually ended up losing the match in four sets, which made the 24-year-old the 10th player in the Open Era to defend his crown at SW19. It was the first time Zverev progressed beyond the fourth round of the grass-court Major.

Zverev will next compete at the Canadian Open, which he won in 2017 by beating Roger Federer. Last year, his campaign ended in the semifinals.

After the Montreal Masters 1000, Zverev will be chasing his second Cincinnati Masters title. Following the two Masters 1000s, the tennis world will shift its focus toward the US Open, where Zverev lost in the third round last year.

Also read: Carlos Alcaraz Shocks Fans With Bold Braided Hairstyle Ahead of Potential Comeback