13 Years of Almost

“There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.” The last fortnight felt exactly like that for Alexander Zverev.

After years of waiting, close calls, and “what ifs,” the World No. 3 finally shed the weight of the past and captured the Grand Slam title that had long eluded him. It was a moment of redemption, the one that finally gave Sascha the flowers he had spent years earning.

For Mirra Andreeva, the tennis world has been waiting for her moment. Roland Garros may have simply been the moment she announced herself. The 19-year-old phenom claimed her maiden Grand Slam title: the first of many.

What’s more satisfying than finally shaking off a tag that has followed you for years? Ask Alexander Zverev, and he might tell you there’s no better feeling than no longer being called “the best player without a Grand Slam.”

For 13 years since turning professional, everything in Zverev’s career seemed to build toward one moment: a hard-fought 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 win over Italy’s Flavio Cobolli that finally made him a Grand Slam champion.

Through those years, he came close more than once, only to fall just short in the biggest moments. So when he finally stood on Court Philippe-Chatrier holding the Coupe des Mousquetaires, all that weight of near-misses and what-ifs seemed to fade into the Paris air.

Two years earlier, he had left Roland Garros heartbroken after leading Carlos Alcaraz by two sets to one before eventually going down in five. Then in 2025, he fell to Jannik Sinner in straight sets at the Australian Open final.

However, on Sunday in Paris, Zverev didn’t produce his cleanest tennis, but he did just enough when it mattered.

The fourth and fifth sets tightened, nerves crept in, and mistakes started to pile up. In the fifth set, with everything on the line, Zverev found a way through: six winners and nine unforced errors, compared to Cobolli’s four winners and 15 unforced errors. It wasn’t dominant, just controlled enough to stay alive.

And then came the final point. A lob, a rushed reply from Cobolli, and the ball drifting long. Just like that, it was over. Zverev collapsed onto the clay, completely drained, covering his eyes as emotion poured out after sealing a match that swung wildly but ultimately went his way.

“I was just very tight today. I was nervous,” he admitted afterwards. “The level was not as stable as it had been.” But in the end, none of that mattered. After everything this tournament, and his career had thrown at him, he had finally found a way through.

Just a fortnight ago, Mirra Andreeva was among the half-dozen most likely French Open winners when play began, with the top five seeds seen as the clear favourites. But few expected the World No. 8 to have other plans.

A Grand Slam title had long felt inevitable for Andreeva; the only uncertainty was when it would happen.

At last year’s Roland Garros, she struggled under pressure against hometown favorite Lois Boisson, and over the following months, she had several difficult moments closing out matches.

By the time she reached Paris, Andreeva was the last top-10 player standing, and the pressure of being a favourite felt more real than ever. The question now was simple: could she handle being the one everyone was chasing?

But, she answered it step by step. A composed semifinal win over Marta Kostyuk set the tone, and in the final she stayed patient before taking control.

At match point, she produced a sharp crosscourt backhand winner and dropped to her knees in celebration. With that, Andreeva became the first Russian woman to win a Grand Slam since Maria Sharapova in 2014.

Zverev makes a heartfelt confession after finally lifting the Musketeers Cup, a moment years in the making

Sascha’s maiden Grand Slam triumph draws praise from Nadal, Alcaraz and other tennis greats.

Andreeva earns the “Future of Women’s Tennis” tag from WTA legends after her breakthrough run at the top level.

A special shoutout to the players who made every match count and carved out history along the way. They may not have lifted the title, but their performances earned them well-deserved recognition on the biggest stage.

After two weeks of predictions, upsets, and shifting fortunes in Paris, it’s time to wrap things up. Here’s a look at the final leaderboard from the French Open challenge and the participants who stayed consistent all the way through.

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