Alexander Zverev bursts with emotion after historic victory at Roland Garros: “A loss today would have destroyed my confidence.”
In a moment that will forever be etched in the history of German tennis, Alexander Zverev left no doubt about the significance of the title won at Roland Garros. In a press conference, the German tennis player could not contain himself and made a powerful statement: “You can call me the worst Grand Slam winner ever, at this moment I couldn’t care less.” A direct response to critics and, above all, to himself, in a journey marked by suffering and resilience.
Fate had a dramatic twist in store for him. After the serious ankle injury that nearly ended his career in 2022, Zverev fought tooth and nail to reclaim his dream. And today, on the Court Philippe-Chatrier, he became the first German ever to win Roland Garros, in a titanic five-set battle against Flavio Cobolli.
The champion did not hide the physical and mental difficulties he faced in the decisive match: “I had cramps and was feeling a lot of physical difficulty at the end of the fourth set. But I think the cramps were not just physical; they were mainly mental. I was tense and unstable. In a way, the cramps helped me to release my shots.” The victory in the fifth set was a moment of redemption: “I am happy to be here, sitting next to this magnificent trophy, for the first time.”
Zverev reflected on his internal struggle to regain lost confidence: “Had I stopped believing? I started playing at my best level again last year in Vienna. 2023 has not been a positive year for me; I had many physical problems and didn’t play well. This trophy helps me believe in myself.” He revealed that this achievement is a historic milestone for Germany: “I am the first German to win the Roland Garros. This is an important trophy for my country.”
The Hamburg tennis player, who had already accumulated Masters 1000 titles by the age of 20, admitted that it took him time to find the same confidence in Grand Slams: “Now, none of this matters; I am forever a Grand Slam champion. No one can take this away from me. This success may allow me to play with more freedom, to relax my mind in the finals. Even if I lose, I will always be a Grand Slam champion. If I had lost today, my confidence would have crumbled, but now I feel that I can do it again.”
In a moment of great emotion, Zverev shared a curious episode after the second match point: “I couldn’t believe I had won; I looked at my box, and they were celebrating. That’s when I realized, especially when I saw my father raising his arms to the sky.” For him, the Court Philippe-Chatrier has an ambivalent significance: “Here, I experienced some of the worst moments of my life – an injury that left me uncertain about my future and a lost final. But what I built today surpasses all of that.”
Finally, Zverev reflected on the pressure he felt after the early exits of Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, two of the main favorites: “I was tired, but I managed these two weeks well. Many important defeats happened – Sinner went out, then Djokovic. I kept calm and played good tennis. Today I didn’t play at my best level; there were ups and downs, but that’s part of human nature. That’s why I said that the cramps helped me: I started to play with more lightness and without pressure.”
With this unforgettable victory, Alexander Zverev not only overcomes physical and psychological adversities but also establishes himself firmly among the greats of world tennis, offering a powerful example of resilience, courage, and talent. Roland Garros now has a new German king, and his story of overcoming challenges will forever remain in the memories of sports fans.
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