Sascha Zverev lifted the Roland-Garros men’s singles trophy after a final that added another major chapter to his career at the Paris Grand Slam. In his victory speech, he saluted Flavio Cobolli after what he described as “two incredible weeks” and praised the Italian’s performance and team.
Zverev’s message was generous from the start, as he told Cobolli that he had played so well and had shown the level of a Grand Slam finalist. He also wished Cobolli to lift a trophy of that size very soon, while adding that his team was “the best on the circuit” and deserved major titles.
A tribute to the people behind Roland-Garros
The German also made time to thank Amélie, whom he called “the best Grand Slam director in the world.” He said the tournament does everything for the players and praised the warm welcome he felt in Paris throughout the event.
Zverev pointed to the changes at Roland-Garros in recent years, especially the presence of two main courts with two roofs. He said the improvements made the tournament even stronger and thanked the FFT, the ball kids and everyone involved in making the two weeks feel special.
The crowd and the court that shaped his story
The champion then turned to the Paris crowd, saying he had lived both his best and worst moments on that court. He recalled the difficult side of his history at Roland-Garros, mentioning the ankle injury in which he tore seven ligaments and the final he had lost before finally winning the trophy.
That win gave the moment a clear sense of closure. Zverev said he felt pushed by the crowd across the two weeks and suggested he would probably not have reached the title without that support.
A long road with the same people beside him
Zverev also used the speech to underline the stability of his team, describing some of the longest professional relationships on the tour. He said his father has followed him for 29 years, his brother has supported him for the same amount of time, and his fitness coach has worked with him since he was 16.
He added that his close friend Marcelo Melo has been in his box for years and called him a source of happiness. He also joked with his physio, noting that he had only been around for a few weeks, before saying the team had gone through injuries, defeats and “catastrophes” together.
The speech ended with the central message of the day: after everything he had endured, Zverev and his team were finally Grand Slam champions.
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