Toni Nadal Sends Warning to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz After Alexander Zverev’s Roland Garros Win

Alexander Zverev was once known as one of the best players never to have won a Grand Slam title. He was given this label because he had added titles of every tour-level category to his trophy cabinet, except a Major title. But this Sunday (June 7), Zverev shed this label.

In an exhilarating French Open final against Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, Zverev secured a five-set victory and dropped to his knees and sobbed, realizing the magnitude of what he had achieved. Except for Wimbledon, Zverev has consistently made deep runs in the Majors in recent years, and in fact, he made the quarterfinals in Paris for the sixth consecutive time.

And now with this win, Toni Nadal expects Zverev to become even more aggressive. Toni, who played an integral role in his nephew Rafael Nadal‘s career, was approached by Zverev last year, but he declined the offer.

While speaking to Radioestadio Noche, Toni said tennis has done justice to a player of Zverev’s caliber by allowing him not to end his career without a Grand Slam title. Toni also believes this win will bring Sascha closer to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the top two players who dominated in the Majors since 2024 until this French Open.

For many years, Zverev has been obsessed with winning a Grand Slam. That creates a lot of pressure. He’s someone who loves tennis. This victory will bring him closer to Sinner and Alcaraz, and it will allow him to play much more aggressively.

Toni Nadal said

Alcaraz withdrew even before the start of the tournament because he injured his wrist while playing at the Barcelona Open. Sinner was hit by severe full-body cramps during his second-round match against Juan Manuel Cerundolo and ended up losing the match despite needing just one game win to book a berth in the third round. He was aiming to become the seventh man in the Open Era to achieve the Career Grand Slam milestone.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion has pulled out of Wimbledon as well. He won in 2023 and 2024 by beating Novak Djokovic, but Sinner dashed his hat-trick goal last year by beating him in the final.

Boris Becker reacts to Alexander Zverev’s Roland Garros win

The win in Paris made Alexander Zverev the first German man since Boris Becker at the 1996 Australian Open to emerge triumphant in a Grand Slam final. While Becker, the winner of six Majors, tasted success at this stage as a teenager at the 1985 Wimbledon, Zverev had to wait for a long time. Becker, while speaking to TNT Sports, said the 29-year-old has finally shown everyone what he is capable of.

The images speak for themselves. A lifelong dream has come true. He can hardly believe what has just happened. He – and his entire family – have worked so long and so hard for this moment. If there is one player at the very top of the rankings who truly deserves this after years of hard work, of despair, of disappointment — it’s him.

The French Open was Zverev’s first title of the season. Before Paris, he had made the final of the Madrid Open but was no match for Jannik Sinner.

The grass swing has already started. But Zverev will not be competing at the Stuttgart Open, whose main draw has already started on June 8. Zverev finished as the runner-up last year, losing the final to Taylor Fritz.

The World No. 3 has reached three grass-court finals but has never won a title. At Wimbledon, he has never made it past the fourth round, reaching the stage thrice. But last year, he suffered an opening-round exit.

Also read: Toni Nadal Breaks Silence on Split With Nephew Rafael Nadal in 2017: “I Couldn’t Contribute”