Yannick Noah anticipates Alexander Zverev’s victory over Jannik Sinner

Yannick Noah is a big fan of Alexander Zverev. The 1983 Roland Garros champion had words of praise for the 29-year-old, highlighting how difficult it is to remain competitive at the highest level for so many years without losing motivation.

“He’s been trying to reach No. 1 in the world for so long, and it’s truly inspiring to see a player come so close to that goal for so many years without ever giving up. Suddenly, a small opportunity presented itself this year, and he was ready. He seized it, and he deserves it.”

“He deserves to savor the feeling of being No. 1—something I have absolutely no idea what it means, because I’ve never been No. 1. I think it must be a wonderful feeling,” added the former French champion about the player who will become the new leader of the rankings in a few weeks.

In London, just a few weeks after Zverev’s triumph at the US Open, Noah had the chance to witness the German’s joy over his achievements. “We exchanged a few messages on the phone. When I saw him, I was happy to see his face again. You could tell he was in high spirits. He was overjoyed, having just won the US Open. It was great to see him,” Noah said.

The former tennis player then sought to distinguish the prestige of reaching the top of the rankings from the immediate satisfaction of winning a match, emphasizing that it is precisely the thrill of victory that lies at the heart of competition. “Being number 1 is something special, but winning the match point is the best part, because we all play to experience that moment of excitement. Maybe it’s different from being number 1, but the most important thing is winning matches,” he concluded.