For years, it actually felt like Alexander Zverev might go his total profession without profitable a Grand Slam title.
Despite all his unimaginable high quality, with all the instruments needed to become a main champion, time and time again he fell short.
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That was, until 2026 modified everything.
Whether it was down to the absences of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz issues not for Alexander Zverev, who took full benefit of the attracts in Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open, profitable two and reaching the remaining of the other.
It has been a landmark, standout yr for the German, but as is typically the case with great champions, a new goal has been set. He was more than comfortable to reveal it in his newest press convention.
Alexander Zverev reveals his new objective after profitable two Grand Slams in one yr
Speaking in German to the Austrian press forward of his return to motion at the Erste Bank Open, the two-time main champion was open and upbeat.
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Chatting with members of the media, he mentioned a wide range of topics, but his Grand Slam exploits this season unsurprisingly dominated proceedings.
He started by revealing the aid that he has felt since that first success in Paris, noting: “It was always a huge goal for me. It was the one tournament I hadn’t managed to win. I had won at every other level, but that particular level—the Grand Slam title—did create a certain amount of pressure; it was incredibly important to me.
“Winning in Paris actually lifted a enormous weight off my shoulders, which then enabled me to be profitable in New York as properly.”
Then, asked whether his Grand Slam triumphs this season might have impacted perceptions around the locker room, Zverev argued against it, responding: “I’ve been in the world’s prime ten of tennis since 2017.
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“I’ve been competing in major tournaments for quite a while now; I had never won one, but I’ve been around for seven years.”
He completed by outlining his new objectives, having finally ticked off his final dream of profitable a main.
Now, Zverev desires more: “I think you always have to keep setting new goals for yourself.
“For me, this yr, the objective was to win this specific title [a Grand Slam]. After that, there are other targets. I’m hoping to have the probability to win the other two as properly. That’s not to say I would not need to win Paris or New York again, but this is something particular for me.
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“Especially because, for the first time this year, I felt like I could actually play on grass—I really got to know what tennis on grass is all about—and that has been a huge success for me.
“For me, this yr has also been a enormous success, because I felt like I finally had a probability in all 4 of the Grand Slams.”
Alexander Zverev closes in on the world quantity one spot
Zverev only wants to attain the quarter-finals in Vienna to become just the thirtieth man in historical past to attain the world quantity one spot.
It represents the fruits of a vastly spectacular yr for him, although some still search to belittle it.
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Daniil Medvedev not too long ago said whether he felt Zverev deserved to be world quantity one, amid claims that because of Alcaraz and Sinner’s accidents he had not totally earned the title.
Asked about the prospect of going through the Spaniard here in Vienna, he added: “I believe that, in the meantime, we clearly have to do our job and win our matches.
“Yes, of course, Jannik and Carlos represent the two biggest challenges we have in tennis; there’s no question about that. I’m also looking forward to continuing to compete against them over the next few years.”
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