|
9 Jun 2026 | 18.19
Alexander Zverev made history last Sunday by defeating Flavio Cobolli and winning his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros 2026. After a long time chasing this goal, the 29-year-old German tennis player has lifted a burden off his shoulders, which will mark a before and after in his career, for better or for worse. It depends on himself.
The positive side is the backpack of rocks that Zverev has freed himself from, as the ghost of his curse in Grand Slams had been haunting him for too long. He had lost the three previous finals he had played in a 'major', and in the US Open 2020 final against Dominic Thiem and the Roland Garros 2024 final against Carlos Alcaraz, he was very close to lifting the trophy. Too much pressure on his shoulders that has completely disappeared.
In fact, it is something he emphasized after winning the title at the Philippe Chatrier. Nerves, pressure, expectations... this time he was the clear favorite and managed to fulfill his mission to avoid being asked in every press conference whether he would end his career without winning a title of this magnitude. This will also allow him to play more freely, something very dangerous for his opponents considering the talent and skills he possesses. In subsequent interviews, he has revealed that he is already thinking about winning the next one, although there are also certain factors that could work against him.
Zverev and his pending task with Sinner, Alcaraz, and Djokovic
The first factor is not what, but who. Because yes, it is true that 'Sascha' won the trophy at Roland Garros. Equally true is that he did not face any top 10 player along the way, nor Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, or Novak Djokovic, his main executioners in his recent Grand Slam appearances. In fact, he appeared nervous and error-prone in the final, a mistake that against these three names would have been fatal for his title aspirations.
Before this tournament, it was already known that Zverev was one of the most complete and consistent players on the circuit. He tends to reach the final rounds of important tournaments, there is no doubt about that, but his hand shakes at the crucial moment. This time was no different, it's just that Cobolli's hand shook more than his. Obviously, the German player remains a threat to Sinner, Alcaraz, or Djokovic, but the question of whether he will be able to face them in a Grand Slam still remains. This doubt will not dissipate until he proves otherwise.
Will Zverev lose ambition after achieving his first Grand Slam?
The other big question is a possible loss of ambition once he achieves a goal he has been fighting for for so long. At 29, 'Sascha' already has a gold medal at the Olympic Games and a Grand Slam, so he risks feeling empty after proving that he had what it takes to win a major. It is not the first time we have seen a player fall into a hole after reaching the top, and considering his mentality, this is a real risk.
In fact, he is one of the few players who, after achieving such major milestones, is making front-page news for completely non-sports-related issues, so it will be interesting to see how it affects him psychologically. No one doubts his qualities, and it is normal for him to continue going far in each tournament, but the situation that unfolded at Roland Garros was totally anomalous, something that is unlikely to happen again at Wimbledon or in the following Grand Slams. Last Sunday, Zverev's career changed completely, and now it remains to be seen whether this change is for better or for worse.
Cette actualité est une traduction automatique. Vous pouvez lire la nouvelle originale Zverev y cómo cambiará su carrera tras ganar Roland Garros
-
27 Jul 2026 | 16:00Osaka : "Je ne veux pas être célèbre" -
27 Jul 2026 | 12:00Van Assche resurge en grand à Estoril : "Ha sido un camino muy largo y difícil" -
26 Jul 2026 | 21:00Le dilemme de Shelton en 2026 : "Ce qui m'a le plus frustré est l'incohérence" -
26 Jul 2026 | 15:00Eala change complètement la vision du tennis aux Philippines
