Alexander Zverev Hopes His French Open Win Inspires Kids Living with Diabetes to Achieve Dreams of Becoming Professional Athletes

Alexander Zverev is the first player living with diabetes to win a Grand Slam title. Zverev was four when was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and was told that becoming an elite athlete would be almost impossible for him.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Without insulin, the body cannot regulate blood sugar levels, so managing Type 1 diabetes needs lifelong insulin therapy.

And this is why Zverev often injects himself with insulin during matches. He also took an insulin shot during his grueling five-set battle with Flavio Cobolli in the French Open final. The 29-year-old hopes that his win will help kids living with diabetes believe that they too can achieve big things in life.

Yeah, I mean, I’ve been a diabetic since I’m four years old, and I’ve learned to live with this illness. I’ve learned to play tennis with this illness and to go through normal life with this illness. But back then you know 25 years ago if you had diabetes and want to become a professional athlete it was said to be almost impossible by a lot of specialists, by a lot of doctors.

Alexander Zverev said during his interview with CNBC International

Zverev also launched the Alexander Zverev Foundation to support children with Type 1 diabetes. And it was at that time that Sascha publicly revealed that he too was diagnosed with this chronic disease.

And for me it’s important to show to kids, to parents in the same situation that I was 25 years ago that anything is possible and that you can achieve your dreams you can achieve your dreams of becoming a professional athlete or anything else really with this illness and yeah, I’m happy if some parents or some kids have someone to look up to.

Alexander Zverev added

Zverev, the first German man to win a Major since Boris Becker at the 1996 Australian Open, won a title at this level for the first time after three unsuccessful attempts in the finals. Dominic Thiem beat him at the 2020 US Open, Carlos Alcaraz beat him at the 2024 French Open, and last year, Jannik Sinner dismantled him in the Australian Open final.

Zverev has so far made two finals this season. Before Paris, he played the title clash of the Madrid Open, losing the match to Sinner.

Alexander Zverev is hoping to have a better run at Wimbledon

The next Major is the Wimbledon Championships, set to start on June 29. Jannik Sinner will be competing as the defending champion (he denied Carlos Alcaraz the three-peat last year).

It’s the only Major where Alexander Zverev has never made it past the fourth round. Zverev, in fact, has played three finals on grass but never won a title. But after his Roland Garros run, Zverev is hoping to have a better campaign in the grass-court Major, where he has made the last 16 thrice.

It’s never been a tournament that I’ve done well in, but I’ve never won a Grand Slam before, and before this one either. So, I hope it can change for me.

Alexander Zverev said during his interview with CNBC International

Last year on the grass swing, Zverev played one final. It was at the Stuttgart Open where Taylor Fritz clinched a straight-set win. At Wimbledon, however, his run ended with a five-set defeat to Arthur Rinderknech in the first round.

Zverev withdrew from this year’s Stuttgart Open. Ben Shelton is competing as the first seed, while Fritz is the second seed.

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