Djokovic sends – After Alexander Zverev won his first Grand Slam title at the French Open, the 29-year-old received messages from tennis stars—including Novak Djokovic, who posted an emotional social media tribute highlighting Zverev’s long fight through illness and the pressu
The moment Alexander Zverev finally climbed through the final hurdle at the French Open, the messages came fast—starting with a note from someone who has known him since the tennis world was still small enough for a single practice court to matter.
Zverev defeated Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1 to win his first Grand Slam title. It was a breakthrough after three previous trips to the final ended in setbacks.
Within that rush of recognition, Novak Djokovic posted an emotional message to the German player on social media. Djokovic’s note began with a childhood memory, before it turned to the hard parts of Zverev’s journey.
“Sasha, I have known you since you were 10 years old. You were battling on the practice courts with my youngest brother while I was competing against your older brother. Mischa. on the big stage in both junior and pro circuit. ” Djokovic wrote. “I’ve nurtured a respectful and friendly relationship with your entire family for many years.”.
Djokovic said the two have had “countless conversations” about tennis tactics—but also about life, family and business. He then zeroed in on Zverev’s diabetes diagnosis, recalling a moment from the final itself when Zverev gave himself a shot of insulin while playing Cobolli.
“Knowing what you had to endure with your illness since the young age, overcoming the greatest mental hurdle within yourself and shutting down critics who thought you would never win GS, makes this Grand Slam win even more special and memorable,” Djokovic said.
He also addressed what the victory looked like away from the court. “Seeing the tears of joy you had together with your parents, brother and other team members made me emotional. I’m happy that you made it and you absolutely deserve this success because you have worked so hard on every front to make it happen.”.
Zverev’s win immediately reshapes the conversation around him, too—Djokovic’s message included one simple reminder of how far the milestone puts him from another sportwide benchmark. Zverev “just needs 23 more titles to tie Djoker.”
For Zverev, the French Open title was not just a trophy at the end of a single fortnight. It came after a history of near-misses in finals, a public battle tied to his diabetes diagnosis, and the kind of private pressure that doesn’t disappear when the final point ends.
Alexander Zverev Novak Djokovic French Open Flavio Cobolli tennis Grand Slam diabetes insulin shot Mischa Djokovic