Alexander Zverev is arguably one of the best players to have never won a Grand Slam title, a feat he has come agonisingly close to on multiple occasions.
Zverev has reached three major finals throughout his career, the first of which came in 2020 at the US Open, when he faced Dominic Thiem for the title.
Despite coming back from two sets down, the German ultimately lost the match in a fifth-set tiebreak, as Thiem clinched his first and only Grand Slam crown.
It was a crushing defeat for the then-23-year-old, who faced the media after the match and made a bold prediction about his future.
Alexander Zverev’s prediction after losing the 2020 US Open final
In his post-match press conference, Zverev was asked: “Dominic just said he felt the pressure of his fourth major final and thinking he might not get another chance. What were you thinking and feeling from the time you won the first two sets?”
He replied: “I was super close to being a Grand Slam champion. I was a few games away, maybe a few points away.
“For me, what upset me the most is not the third set or something like that, it’s the fifth set. I had a lot of chances in the fifth set and didn’t use them.
“Yeah, I mean, I’m 23 years old. I don’t think it’s my last chance. I do believe that I will be a Grand Slam champion at some point.”
Alexander Zverev’s Grand Slam record since the 2020 US Open final
Since the loss to Thiem at Flushing Meadows, Zverev is yet to deliver on his prediction, having suffered several near misses on the biggest stages.
From 2021 to now, he has made it to seven Grand Slam semi-finals, advancing to the final twice.
Zverev’s best results at majors since the 2020 US Open final:
- 2021: Roland Garros semi-final, US Open semi-final
- 2022: Roland Garros semi-final
- 2023: Roland Garros semi-final
- 2024: Australian Open semi-final, Roland Garros final
- 2025: Australian Open final
He reached his second major final in 2024 at Roland Garros, where he was denied over five sets by Carlos Alcaraz.
Then in 2025, he was beaten by a red-hot Jannik Sinner in straight sets at the Australian Open, which was his last appearance in a championship match of a Grand Slam to date.
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