Alexander Zverev has finally done it.
After years of being “nearly there”, battling injuries, losing big finals and carrying the pressure of trying to win that first Grand Slam, he’s finally got over the line.
And whether you’re a Zverev fan or not, there’s a lot we can all take from it.
Because tennis is tennis - whether you’re playing on Philippe-Chatrier or Court 3 at your local club.
1. Keep putting yourself in the mix
Zverev didn’t win his first Grand Slam the easy way.
He has always been “one to watch”. He was a top junior player, becoming the Junior World Number 1 in October 2013 after reaching the Junior French Open final, before going on to win the Junior Australian Open in 2014.
In his senior career, Zverev found himself caught between the era of the “Big 4” and the rise of Sinner and Alcaraz, meaning he never quite got the break many expected him to have.
Before his victory in Paris, he had reached three Grand Slam finals and lost all three. Then, in 2022, during the French Open semi-final, he suffered a severe ankle injury that forced him to miss the rest of the season.
But he kept putting himself there.
That’s such a good lesson for club players. You might lose a few tight matches. You might pick up an injury. You might keep getting close and not quite finishing the job.
But if you keep showing up, keep learning, and keep putting yourself in those situations, eventually things start to change.
2. You don’t need to play perfect tennis
This is probably the biggest one.
So many players think they need to play brilliantly to win. You don’t.
Zverev’s win wasn’t about playing flawless tennis from start to finish. It was about finding a way. He had momentum, lost momentum, had to reset, and then go again.
He didn’t win because everything was flowing perfectly - he won because of desire, resilience and perseverance.
This translates to club tennis entirely!
You start well, then have a dodgy game. You miss a couple of volleys. Your opponent suddenly starts to believe. The match gets messy.
The players who win most often aren’t always the prettiest players to watch. They’re the ones who can stay calm, solve problems, and keep competing.
3. Reset quickly
One of the best things you can learn in tennis is how to let go of the last point.
Easier said than done, of course.
But Zverev’s win showed how important it is. Big players have setbacks too. Zverev lost a fourth-set-tiebreak and then was able to regroup to bounce back and win the fifth set 6-1.
The equally brilliant and frustrating part about tennis is the fact that every point in tennis is only worth 1 point
Whether you’ve just hit an unbelievable winner or missed the easiest volley of the match, the point is still only worth one! So the ability to reset is huge.
Miss an easy volley? Reset.
Double fault? Reset.
Lose a tight set? Reset.
It sounds simple, but at club level this is massive. The quicker you can move on, the more matches you’ll give yourself a chance of winning.
4. Patience is a weapon
We all love a winner.
But most matches aren’t won by hitting highlight-reel shots every other point. They’re won by doing the right things often enough.
Zverev’s game has always had power, but this win was also about patience, discipline and building points properly.
That’s exactly the same in doubles.
You don’t always need to go for the tiny gap. Sometimes the best shot is through the middle. Sometimes it’s the deep cross-court return. Sometimes it’s just making your opponent play one more ball.
Patience doesn’t mean being passive. It means being smart.
The other thing to note from Zverev’s tactics in the fifth set was the use of his strengths.
It’s very easy in tennis to become obsessed with what you’re not good at. But often, success comes from using your best shots more often and in the right moments.
For Zverev, his biggest weapons have always been his first serve and backhand. In the fifth set, he trusted them, used them, and let them carry him over the line.
5. The little things add up
Winning a Grand Slam looks like one huge moment.
But really, it’s built on hundreds of small things done well.
The routines. The recovery. The shot selection. The footwork. The ability to stay calm when everything feels tense.
And it’s no different for us.
Want to improve your doubles? Start with the small stuff.
Make more first serves. Increase your margins. Communicate better with your partner. Move forward when you can. Cover the middle. Choose the simple volley. Don’t panic when the point gets scrappy.
Do those things more often and your tennis will improve.
Final thought
Zverev’s first Grand Slam win is a great reminder that tennis rewards the players who keep going.
- Not the players who never miss.
- Not the players who always feel confident.
- Not even always the players who look the best.
- But the ones who keep showing up, keep competing, and keep giving themselves chances.
And that’s something every single one of us can learn from. Feeling inspired by Roland Garros? Why not get planning your next holiday and experience some European Clay Courts for yourself?