After his great triumph at the French Open, Alexander Zverev not only put his Italian opponent Flavio Cobolli in the spotlight. His family and his support team also found plenty of space in his emotional acceptance speech.
Alexander Zverev immediately thought of all his supporters in one of the greatest sporting moments of his tennis career. Shortly after winning the final thriller against the Italian Flavio Cobolli (6:1, 4:6, 6:4, 6:7 (5:7), 6:1), the 29-year-old ran into the stands to join his father Alexander senior, brother Mischa, grandma Natalia and the rest of his team to celebrate together.
When the first emotions were digested and he was able to hold the coveted trophy in his hands, Zverev emphasized in an exclusive conversation RTL and NITRO the meaning of his victory for the entire family: “It is one of the most special moments for all of us in our lives. We have had so many difficult moments in Grand Slams – especially on this court. I was lying here with multiple torn ligaments and broken bones and now, four years later, to win this title is the greatest moment in the world.”
In his acceptance speech, the Hamburg resident had previously emphasized how important family support is: “I would like to thank my team, my father. He has always been there for me for 29 years.” Zverev senior has always been the sole coach – quite something unusual in the tennis world.
Video: Zverev gets emotional in his acceptance speech
“Of course I also have my brother, who has been there for 29 years. He won’t get rid of me that quickly,” Zverev continued. He jokingly added to his brother: “Now don’t ask for a bonus!”
“Now we are Grand Slam winners”
Zverev continued: “I would like to thank everyone. We went through so much together. We had injuries and heartache. Sometimes we were losers, especially in the crucial moments. But ultimately we are Grand Slam winners now. That’s what counts.”
Roland Garros is also a very special place, he emphasized. Four years ago he was seriously injured in the semifinals against Rafael Nadal, and two years ago he failed in the final against Carlos Alcaraz in five sets.
Zverev ennobles final opponent Cobolli
“I’m experiencing the best moment of my life here and had my hardest moment here. I was lying in the corner and tore all my ligaments four years ago, lost a final two years ago. Now it’s a happy ending,” says the Hamburg native happily.
At the moment of his success, the tennis star also put his final opponent Flavio Cobolli in the foreground. He began his acceptance speech with the words: “I would like to congratulate Flavio. It was an incredible two weeks in which you reached your first Grand Slam final. To play like that in your first final is incredible, not many can do that.”
Zverev is the first German French Open winner after Henner Henkel in 1937 and the first German Grand Slam champion in men’s singles since Becker’s success at the Australian Open in 1996. The Tokyo Olympic champion joined Becker (6 Grand Slams) and Michael Stich (1) as only the third German to celebrate at a major since professional tennis began in 1968. For women, Angelique Kerber last won a Slam trophy at Wimbledon in 2018.