"I was not ready to win my first Grand Slam" admits Alexander Zverev on previous Grand Slam final attempt as Alcaraz clash looms
ATP
Into his second Grand Slam final, it is a first in four years for Alexander Zverev who admits he is a different person to when he faced Dominic Thiem back in 2020 for potential US Open glory. He said that he was not ready to win his first Grand Slam back then.
He quipped after he defeated Casper Ruud in four sets that he wasn't mature enough to win his first ever Grand Slam. But also adopts a mentality of if not now when will he do it.
He explained that being 27, he needs to win his Grand Slam title as soon as he can. Something that Alcaraz has done twice in his early twenties, so he holds some weight of impetus when it comes to the final having done it before. But Zverev himself had previously never even got to the final in Paris so has put one wrong right. Can he add another?
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"Well, I was two sets to love up and a break up, and I was two points away from winning the match. But, I've said it before and I'm going to say it now again - I was not ready," said Zverev.
"I was not ready to win my first Grand Slam title, I was not mature enough, I was maybe too much of a kid still. I didn't know what the occasion meant and that's why I lost. I'm 27 years old now, so definitely not a kid anymore, already getting older and you know, if not now then when?"
"I've been on the tour for, this is my 11th year now. So, it's been a long time but I'm still enjoying the game, I still love every single second on these kinds of beautiful courts and I'm still trying to improve and I'm in my first Roland Garros final and hopefully I can win my first Grand Slam."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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