Djokovic’ moving words to Zverev
“What you’ve been through since you were a child”
June 9, 2026 – 12:31 a.mReading time: 3 minutes
An emotional Novak Djokovic congratulates Alexander Zverev. The 24-time Grand Slam winner pays his respects to the German – and reminds us of the big hurdles.
Tennis star Novak Djokovic congratulated his long-time rival and companion Alexander Zverev with emotional words after his historic Grand Slam triumph in Paris. “I’m happy that you made it and you absolutely deserve this success because you worked so hard in every way to make it happen,” the Serb wrote on Instagram on Monday and posted a photo showing him on the court with Zverev.
“Knowing what you have been through since childhood with your illness, how you overcame the biggest mental hurdle within yourself and silenced critics who thought you would never win a Grand Slam tournament, makes this Grand Slam victory even more special and unforgettable,” Djokovic continued.
Djokovic and Zverev have a special history in common. When Alexander Zverev spoke of mental problems after his bitter first-round exit at Wimbledon last year and then took some time off, he received public encouragement from the Serb. “I wish him all the best and I’m there for him,” Dojokovic said at the time, referencing his own battle with mental health issues. “He knows he can turn to me at any time. I understand him, I understand what he’s going through because I’ve been through it many times.”
Djokovic: “That moved me very much”
He added: “Sascha and I have a great relationship, I like him a lot as a person. We talk a lot about tennis and other things in life.” Zverev last played against the 24-time Grand Slam winner at the tournament in Paris in 2025. In the four-set defeat, the German was already struggling with mental exhaustion, but Djokovic was also struggling with his body. He was suffering from muscular problems at the time. Nevertheless, the Serb ultimately prevailed confidently.
The two world-class players also meet regularly for joint training sessions, most recently in preparation for the French Open. Djokovic was eliminated from the clay court tournament in the third round against Joao Fonseca. Zverev, on the other hand, mastered all hurdles on the Philippe Chatrier Court and was crowned with the title.