"I still believe that I can": Alexander Zverev remains upbeat about winning Grand Slam despite three final defeats

World number two Germany’s Alexander Zverev remains very optimistic about winning a Grand Slam despite numerous heartbreaks. The 27-year-old is often regarded as one of the most consistent performers on the tour in men’s tennis in the singles category.

However, those performances have not led him to secure a Grand Slam in his career. Zverev most recently suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the final of the Australian Open 2025 to reigning world number one Italy’s Jannik Sinner in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 7-6, 6-3.

It was the third consecutive occasion where Zverev faltered at the last hurdle in a Grand Slam. In 2020, he lost to Dominic Thiem in a five-set thriller in the final of the US Open with a score of 2–6, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 7–6. Just last year, the German tennis star suffered a defeat to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the French Open in another five-setter with a score of 6–3, 2–6, 5–7, 6–1, 6–2.

That’s not it, as in 2024, Zverev lost in the semifinal of the Australian Open to Russia’s Daniil Medvedev, despite winning the first two sets, in a five-set clash with a score of 5-7, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3.

The Hamburg-born star, who recently participated in the Argentina Open, where he was knocked out after suffering a shocking defeat in the quarterfinal to local favourite Francisco Cerundolo with a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, has been recently quoted in a report where he expressed optimism about winning a Grand Slam this year. “I still believe that I can [win a Grand Slam],” he said. “Now a few weeks have passed [after defeat in the final of the Australian Open], I still believe that I can and I will win a Grand Slam this year and hopefully in the next few years to come.”