Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer shared his response to Alexander Zverev's Roland Garros title win earlier this year. The German had been chasing his first Grand Slam title for quite some time, but the question was answered in Paris earlier this year.
Zverev beat Flavio Cobolli in five sets to win the Roland Garros title. Federer, who faced Zverev 7 times on the ATP Tour, said he was delighted to see the German win his first Grand Slam title. He said about Zverev in an interview with ESPN Brasil:
I was also happy that Zverev won Roland-Garros. I've known him since he was very young and made his debut on the circuit. It was a great victory for him.
Zverev shared about the time he met Federer for the first time. While introducing the Swiss legend at the 2017 Laver Cup, the two-time ATP Finals champion said that the duo met for the first time at the 2003 Hamburg Masters.
Zverev reached the Wimbledon final right after winning Roland Garros. The German put up a good fight against Jannik Sinner but eventually lost in 4 sets. He became one of the few players to reach all 4 Grand Slam finals.
Following Jannik Sinner's withdrawal due to a knee injury, the US Open men's draw has been significantly reshaped. Alexander Zverev has inherited the top seed, granting him a much kinder, smoother path through the top half of the tournament.
In stark contrast, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz finds himself marooned at the bottom of the draw. Returning from a four-month layoff due to a wrist injury, Alcaraz faces a brutal re-entry into competitive tennis, starting with a tricky opening match against Roman Safiullin.
The bottom half of the bracket is heavily stacked with heavyweights and challenging potential matchups. Alcaraz could run into dangerous rising stars like Arthur Fils and Ben Shelton, as well as Novak Djokovic, making his title defense an uphill battle.
Meanwhile, the early rounds are packed with compelling theatre, including a marquee throwback clash between Matteo Berrettini and Stan Wawrinka. American hopefuls like Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton are also carrying local expectations as they look to break the long-standing home championship drought.
Roger Federer made an emotional return to Arthur Ashe Stadium to headline US Open Fan Week, participating in a star-studded exhibition alongside tennis greats like Andy Roddick, Andre Agassi, and John McEnroe.
The special appearance gave the 20-time Grand Slam champion a long-awaited chance to properly thank New York fans and say goodbye on court. He missed out on a formal farewell when injuries preceded his 2022 retirement.
During his press conference, Federer firmly shut down any speculation of a competitive comeback or accepting a wildcard. He emphasized that he is entirely content being a fan and focusing on his busy post-retirement life.
The weekend celebrations also highlight Federer's continued legacy in the sport. He heads to Newport for his formal induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
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