London (AFP) – Newly crowned French Open champions Alexander Zverev and Mirra Andreeva arrive at Wimbledon wrestling with an unexpected dilemma -- why doesn't life feel different after fulfilling their ambition to win a Grand Slam?
Issued on: 27/06/2026 - 18:38
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Zverev finally secured his long-awaited major triumph with a tense five-set victory over Flavio Cobolli at Roland Garros earlier in June.Long regarded as the most talented player never to win a Grand Slam, the 29-year-old German exorcised the ghosts of three previous major final defeats.Zverev had been tipped to dominate since his emergence as a precious teenager caught the eye of Roger Federer, but passive play on the biggest stages had cost him dearly, until he at last held his nerve to beat Cobolli in Paris.Yet what should have been a transformative moment for Zverev has been followed by a strangely prosaic existence in the days since his triumph in the French capital.He travelled to London, ahead of the start of Wimbledon on Monday, pondering exactly why that might be."I think people always think that once you win a Grand Slam, your life changes in a way. I kind of figured out it really doesn't," Zverev told reporters on Saturday."For me, I enjoy certain things outside the court. I will keep enjoying them, whether it's going to play golf with my friends, whether it's going to a kids club with my daughter."Of course there is some sort of satisfaction inside of me, and there is of course something that I was fighting for my entire career."Outside of that, life doesn't really change that much. You continue living your life. As you can see, two weeks later we're at Wimbledon and we're already preparing for the next Grand Slam."'A little addiction'
