Alexander Zverev’s post-match surprise: German Chancellor weighs in and social media erupts

Alexander Zverev claimed his first Grand Slam title with a five-set win over Flavio Cobolli in the French Open final, taking the match 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1.

It was a moment years in the making for Zverev, who finally broke through to lift his first major trophy. He did it in typical fashion, too, grinding out a tough five-setter against Cobolli on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Following the win, he was congratulated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who shared a message on X. “What an extraordinary success!” Merz said (translated from German).

“Heartfelt congratulations on the fantastic victory at the French Open and your first Grand Slam title, Alexander Zverev. This powerful performance thrills an entire nation.”

Zverev’s win marked a 30-year wait since a German man last won a major singles title. Boris Becker was the previous champion, having won the 1996 Australian Open. Zverev had been carrying those expectations for years and had come close several times before breaking through in Paris.

The world number five lost three Grand Slam finals before finally clinching his first title. Those losses came against Dominic Thiem (2020 US Open), Carlos Alcaraz (2024 French Open), and Jannik Sinner (2025 Australian Open).

Alexander Zverev needs to bring Davis Cup success back to Germany

Zverev has won just about everything the sport has to offer. He’s got an Olympic gold, the ATP Finals, a collection of Masters 1000 titles, and now a Grand Slam to his name.

But there’s still one prize missing: the Davis Cup. The “World Cup of Tennis” is still missing from Zverev’s CV. It hasn’t always been at the top of his priorities. He only returned for Germany in 2025 after a two-year break from team competition.

Germany’s last Davis Cup win came back in 1993, when Michael Stich played a key role in their 4-1 win over Australia. Since then, they haven’t added another title or even made it back to the final.

With his Grand Slam goal finally achieved, perhaps now is the moment for Zverev to focus on bringing team success home as well. This September, he’ll get that chance when Germany faces Croatia in a crucial qualifying tie for the Davis Cup Finals.

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