Alexander Zverev’s US Open victory represented more than finally securing the Grand Slam title he had chased for years. Shortly after defeating Ben Shelton in the final, the German star became emotional while paying tribute to his mother, Irina, and recalling how her support helped him chase his tennis ambitions despite being diagnosed with diabetes as a child.
Zverev defeated Shelton 6-3, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2 at Arthur Ashe Stadium to win his first US Open crown and his second Grand Slam title of the year. During his victory speech, he described his mother as the most important person in both his tennis career and his life, remembering how she stood by him after he was diagnosed with diabetes at four.
“I want to thank one more person who’s never actually watching my matches but is the most important person in my tennis life and in my life in general,” Zverev said.
He recalled how difficult the diagnosis had been for his family, saying it required an exceptionally strong mother to hear doctors warn that his life and sporting opportunities could be severely restricted, yet leave determined that her son could achieve whatever he wanted.
“If he wants to be a tennis player, he’ll be a tennis player. If he wants to do something else, he’ll do something else. But this illness will not define us.”
Zverev described his mother as “the most important and strongest person I know”, adding that it took an “unbelievably strong woman” to make the choices she did for him.
FROM CHILDHOOD DIAGNOSIS TO US OPEN JOY
Zverev was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was just four years old. He kept his condition largely private for years before revealing it publicly in 2022. He later established the Alexander Zverev Foundation, which works to support children living with diabetes and improve access to insulin and other essential medication.
His mother’s confidence in him became an important part of his journey, particularly after doctors cautioned his family that diabetes might restrict his ambitions both in life and sport.
The 2026 season has proved especially significant for Zverev, bringing two major achievements. Earlier this year, he won his first Grand Slam at the French Open, before adding his maiden US Open championship to complete another major breakthrough.
The New York triumph also carried personal significance following his painful defeat in the 2020 final, when he let a two-set advantage slip against Dominic Thiem.
This time, Zverev maintained his composure and lifted the trophy. As the celebrations began, he made a point of acknowledging the person who had always refused to let his illness determine the limits of what he could accomplish.
