Alexander Zverev is once again in the Roland Garros final, just one step away from his first Grand Slam trophy that he has been waiting for so long. However, he recently stated that he would never trade his Olympic gold medal from Tokyo (2020) for a Grand Slam title, as he still considers it the most difficult thing to win.
By Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA – Alexander Zverev, CC BY-SA 2.0
Fighting Diabetes: Zverev’s Most Important Victory Off the Court
What makes him a true fighter is his story off the court. Zverev was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was only four years old. Despite having to monitor every detail of his health, he managed to become one of the best tennis players in the world. How difficult this can be is best illustrated by the situation at Roland Garros in 2023, when officials told him it “looks weird” to inject insulin on the court during a break.
He channeled his struggle into a noble cause by establishing the “Alexander Zverev Foundation,” which provides vital insulin and medicine to help children around the world fighting this disease.
Historical Pressure: Grand Slam Records Zverev Wants to Avoid
However, tonight Zverev is also fighting against some very unpleasant history. Currently, he shares the first place with the legendary Spaniard David Ferrer for the most wins at the Parisian Grand Slam (44 victories) without ever winning the title. If he loses to Cobolli, Zverev will become the absolute record holder and remain alone at the top of this infamous list.
Furthermore, Zverev has previously lost finals at the US Open, Roland Garros, and the Australian Open. If he loses today, he will become the only male tennis player in history to be defeated in four Grand Slam finals without winning a single title. On top of that, he is already the record holder for the most weeks spent in the Top 10 (396 weeks) without winning a Grand Slam.
Zverev vs. Cobolli: What Do the Stats Say Before the Big Final?
When it comes to his opponent, Flavio Cobolli, the two know each other very well. Statistics show that Zverev currently leads the Head-to-Head with 3-1 in victories. However, things are much more tense if we look only at this 2026 season, where they are completely tied (1-1) on clay. Cobolli managed to surprise Zverev in the semifinals of the Munich tournament, but the German tennis player soon took his revenge with a convincing victory in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Masters (6-1, 6-4). Zverev also defeated him in their clash last year right here at Roland Garros.
Although Zverev enters the match as the more experienced player, on the other side of the net awaits the sensational Flavio Cobolli, whose incredible life story and interesting pre-final rituals you can read here.
Will it be his first Grand Slam title or a historical negative record for Zverev?
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