Dubai: A Type 1 diabetic and an ambitious tennis player, Alexander Zverev has finally claimed his first Grand Slam title with a victory at the French Open on Sunday.

According to tennis great Boris Becker, Zverev has at last shown the world what he is capable of. After falling short in three previous Grand Slam finals — including suffering a devastating ankle injury in Paris two years ago — Zverev defeated Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in a gruelling five-set thriller (6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1). With the win, he became the first German man to claim a major title since Becker’s Australian Open triumph three decades ago.

“If there is one player at the very top of the rankings who truly deserves this after years of hard work, despair, and disappointment, it’s him,” Becker told Eurosport. “And to achieve all of this while living with diabetes, that should hardly be possible.”

For Zverev, the victory is the ultimate vindication after a lifetime of doubt. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of four, he was told as a child that elite sport would be impossible. Critics warned he would never be able to build a professional tennis career due to the physical demands of the condition.

He refused to accept that verdict. Instead, Zverev has spent his career playing what he describes as “two games at once”. Unlike his peers, he cannot naturally regulate his blood sugar. In a five-set match lasting more than four hours, the body faces intense strain: physical exertion can cause glucose levels to drop, while adrenaline and stress can trigger spikes.

To manage this delicate balance, Zverev relies on continuous glucose monitoring and strict dietary discipline. During changeovers, he checks his levels, taking glucose tablets when his blood sugar falls or using an insulin pen when it rises. It is a demanding routine — one he has had to defend strongly, including when tournament officials restricted on-court injections at Roland Garros.

“If I don’t do it, my life will be in danger,” Zverev said at the time.

This constant vigilance is both mentally and physically exhausting, especially when combined with the severe cramping and intense pressure he experienced in the later stages of Sunday’s final. Still, medical experts underline that athletes with Type 1 diabetes can compete and excel at the highest levels when they are supported and able to manage their condition effectively.

By lifting the trophy, Zverev achieved more than a sporting milestone: he challenged a long-standing myth. Through the Alexander Zverev Foundation, launched in 2022 to help children access insulin and healthcare, his journey now stands as a powerful example. He did not overcome diabetes in a single match; he has spent a lifetime learning to manage it, proving that the limits others set are not always real.

Understanding Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes

Cause and pathology

  • Type 1 diabetes: An autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, resulting in little to no insulin production.
  • Type 2 diabetes: A metabolic disorder marked by insulin resistance, where the body’s cells do not respond effectively to insulin. Over time, insulin production may also decline.

Age of onset

  • Type 1 diabetes: Commonly diagnosed in children, teenagers, and young adults, though it can develop at any age.
  • Type 2 diabetes: Typically develops in adults over 45 but is increasingly seen in younger people due to rising obesity rates.

Prevention and triggers

  • Type 1 diabetes: Cannot be prevented or cured and is unrelated to diet or lifestyle. Causes are often genetic or environmental (such as viral triggers).
  • Type 2 diabetes: Strongly linked to lifestyle factors such as inactivity, excess weight, and genetics. It can often be prevented or delayed through healthy habits.

Treatment and management

  • Type 1 diabetes: Requires lifelong insulin therapy (via injections or an insulin pump) and regular blood glucose monitoring.
  • Type 2 diabetes: Initially managed with diet, exercise, and weight control; may progress to oral medications, non-insulin injectables, or insulin.

Prevalence

  • Type 1 diabetes: Accounts for about 5–10% of diabetes cases globally.
  • Type 2 diabetes: Represents roughly 90–95% of all diabetes cases worldwide.