Alexander Zverev defeated Flavio Cobolli in a five-set final to claim his first Grand Slam title at the 2026 French Open. Former players and rivals quickly rallied to his defense amid ongoing criticism of his past performances.
Andy Roddick and Chris Eubanks voiced strong support for Zverev on the Served Podcast. Roddick said he was sick of critics treating the German like he was not a great player. Eubanks added that people must separate on-court achievements from off-court opinions. Novak Djokovic posted a tribute on Instagram highlighting Zverev’s long battle with type 1 diabetes. He noted that Zverev has managed the condition since age four while building a successful career. Djokovic said the win was even more special because of the mental and physical hurdles overcome. Zverev addressed critics directly after the match. In his winner’s speech he said the team is now Grand Slam champions. During the press conference he added that being called the worst player to win a Grand Slam did not matter to him. Zverev has 25 ATP titles and previously won Olympic gold in Tokyo. He launched the Alexander Zverev Foundation in 2022 to support children with diabetes.
