Alexander Zverev finally fulfilled his dream of becoming a Grand Slam champion by defeating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in the French Open final on Sunday. The match lasted four hours and 16 minutes, with both players pushed to their limits in the five-set thriller. Zverev started the match strong by taking the opening set 6-1, before Cobolli bounced back in the second to level the tie at one set apiece.
A determined Zverev refused to give up, effectively regained composure, and won the third set 6-4 to lead 2-1. After falling a break behind in the fourth set, the German player fought back, tying the set at five games apiece.
It was at this point that Zverev showed the first signs of fatigue and cramping, and during his service game, the World No. 3 did something surprising that caught everyone’s attention.
During the service game, Zverev took a moment to step toward his player’s box, where Brazilian doubles player Marcelo Melo, a close friend and training partner of the German, directly handed him a drink and some medication.
This action surprised fans and analysts, as protocol typically prohibits members of the player’s box from directly passing items to the player during a live match. Ultimately, Zverev was hit with a time violation.
Coco Gauff and Andre Agassi’s former coach, Brad Gilbert, who actively commentates and hosts shows on the Tennis Channel, was baffled by the scene and exclaimed that the viral moment between Zverev and Melo broke established precedents in a live match.
“Very surprised 😱 Melo handed Zverev a couple of drinks, normal protocol is to ball kidd then brings to your chair 🪑,” Gilbert wrote on X.
Some Other Analysts Were Also Baffled by Alexander Zverev’s Actions
Commentating for TNT Sports, former World No. 1 Jim Courier was also shocked by Zverev’s surprising actions during the service game in the fourth set.
“This is beyond precedent for me. The physio is right there. I’ve never seen a player be allowed to even engage with another player. Marcelo Melo is not part of the medical staff. What are they doing?” said Courier.
Tennis analyst Jon Wertheim also indicated that such an interaction was prohibited. At the same time, journalist Scott Barclay considered it “questionable” that Zverev was permitted to receive medication in this way, flouting the pre-established precedents at a Grand Slam.
“There’s no way that’s in the rules….,” Wertheim wrote on X.
“Watching one of Zverev’s team giving him medication between games during a set seems… questionable at best!” Barclay wrote on X.
Although Zverev lost the fourth set in a tiebreaker, he showed resilience in the final set, winning it convincingly 6-1. After securing the victory, Zverev fell to the ground, overwhelmed with emotion, as the two compatriots shared a warm embrace, greeted with widespread applause from the fans celebrating a new French Open champion.
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