SEPT 25 - 27, 2026 | LONDON
For much of the past decade, Alexander Zverev has been a constant presence at the top of men’s tennis. He won ATP Masters 1000 titles before many of his rivals. He first climbed to World No.2 at age 25.
He became one of Team Europe’s most reliable performers at Laver Cup, delivering unforgettable victories in Prague, Chicago and Geneva. Yet despite 25 ATP singles titles, more than 565 tour-level wins and years inside the world’s Top 10, one prize remained elusive, a major title.
Zverev finally claimed it on the clay of Roland-Garros this year, defeating Team Europe teammate Flavio Cobolli to capture the biggest title of his career and complete an already remarkable resume.
The achievement carried extra significance because of how close he had come before. He held a two-set lead in the 2020 US Open final before finishing runner-up to Dominic Thiem. He reached the Roland-Garros final in 2024, losing to Carlos Alcaraz in five sets, and the Australian Open final in 2025, where Jannik Sinner denied him in straight sets.
“I was quite down,” Zverev admitted after the Melbourne loss. “Seeing somebody lift the trophy, me standing next to that, is difficult because there’s nothing more I want than to be able to hold one of those trophies in my hands.” Sinner commiserated with the German. “He said that I would definitely lift one of those trophies in my career. I’m too good not to. That’s his words,” a forlorn Zverev revealed.
Eighteen months later, those words became reality.
The title in Paris liberated Zverev and marked his return post-Wimbledon to the No.2 ranking ahead of teammate Carlos Alcaraz, who has been out of action with a wrist injury. Zverev’s newfound confidence and self-belief were evident throughout Wimbledon, where he reached his first final at the All England Club after never previously advancing beyond the fourth round. Along the way, he defeated Team World rival Taylor Fritz before pushing defending champion Sinner to four fiercely contested sets.
“Overall, compared to where I was last year, it’s obviously a very different championship for me,” he said. “I felt like we were both playing on an extremely high level.”
A new approach to winning
Long admired for possessing one of the cleanest backhands in the sport, paired with an often-unreturnable serve, Zverev made a conscious decision in 2026 to become more assertive and, where possible, to finish points on his forehand.
“When I have the opportunity, I hit it,” he explained. “Whether I make it or miss it, that depends on the day. I definitely go for it. That’s my goal. That’s my aim for this year; that’s my aim, hopefully, for the rest of my career. I feel like with every month it’s starting to work better and better. That’s the tennis I want to play; that’s the game style I want to play.”
There is another conversation Zverev is no longer shying away from. For the past two seasons, men’s tennis has largely revolved around the dominance of Sinner and Alcaraz, with pundits speculating about who is most likely to challenge the duopoly.
“I think I’ve been pushing those guys,” Zverev said. “I haven’t beaten them this year, but I’ve pushed them to the limits. There has always been this conversation: who will be the third guy? The last couple of years, I’ve always been the third guy, but I was just far away from those two. So, if I get closer to them, if I can be in the mix of competing and winning the big tournaments alongside them, that would be great.”
Overcoming setbacks
In 2022, Zverev suffered a devastating ankle injury during his Roland-Garros semifinal against Rafael Nadal, leaving the court in a wheelchair and wondering if he would play again. Six months later, he had returned to the Tour, beginning the climb back that ultimately led back to Paris.
Few players have embraced the unique atmosphere of Laver Cup quite like Zverev. Chosen by Team Europe’s first Captain Bjorn Borg for the inaugural event in Prague as a 20-year-old alongside Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Zverev announced himself by winning both singles matches. A year later, he collapsed to his knees after clinching Team Europe’s victories in Chicago and Geneva with dramatic deciding-match wins over Kevin Anderson and Milos Raonic, respectively. Across his Laver Cup career, he has contributed 21 points to Team Europe — a record he holds along with most appearances (6) and most Laver Cup championships (5).
“I think the Laver Cup is just such a special event, for so many different reasons,” Zverev said. “Atmosphere wise, player wise … having the best players in the world as a teammates. You only get that at Laver Cup. I love playing there. It’s my seventh time the most of any player. I enjoy it and I keep coming back when I have the opportunity to.”
Nine years after his debut, Zverev returns to London in a very different place in his career. The resilient 29-year-old, who openly manages Type 1 Diabetes by monitoring his blood sugar levels throughout matches, is a Grand Slam champion. The weight of expectation has given way to renewed belief. With a more assertive game, fresh confidence and a clear ambition to challenge the very best, he arrives ready to help lead Team Europe to a sixth Laver Cup victory.
Zverev’s next scheduled tournament is the ATP Masters 1000 in Montreal from August 2-13.
