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Alexander Zverev under best-of-three
From nearly-man to three-time major champion
1actual titles
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3under best-of-three
+2
For years Alexander Zverev was the best player never to win a major — and it is the finals that haunt him, two of them led and then surrendered across the back half of a best-of-five. Best-of-three is kinder to him than to almost anyone in the game.
The verdict
Across 1 actual major title, best-of-three would leave Alexander Zverev with 3. , but 2 final actually lost in five sets would now be won.
Every title, year by year
202020 US OpenWins the final vs Dominic Thiem (2-6 4-6 6-4 6-3 7-6(6)) — a title actually lost in five sets.Won
242024 French OpenWins the final vs Carlos Alcaraz (6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2) — a title actually lost in five sets.Won
262026 French OpenTitle held — survives best-of-three.Kept
The 2020 US Open, where he led Thiem two sets to love, and the 2024 French, where he led Alcaraz two sets to one, both become his. Add his real 2026 Roland Garros and the eternal nearly-man retires, in this telling, a three-time Grand Slam champion.