June 22, 2025
World No. 3 Alexander Zverev has received an unexpected and prestigious honor from tennis icon Ion Țiriac, following one of the most dramatic victories of his career at the Halle Open. The German star battled through illness and physical distress to defeat Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals, an effort that earned him one of the highest forms of recognition from the Romanian tennis legend and businessman.
In a stunning moment during the match, Zverev was forced to sprint off the court to vomit early in the second game after suddenly falling ill. Upon returning, he also struggled with a nosebleed, visibly shaken but determined to continue. Despite his physical condition, Zverev dug deep to grind out a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6(8-6) victory over the world No. 24.
“I felt fine before the match, completely normal,” Zverev explained after the win. “Then, out of nowhere, I started feeling really, really sick. I had to go off and throw up, and honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d finish the match. But 15 minutes later, somehow I felt OK again, and I just kept fighting.”
His resilience and determination did not go unnoticed. Ion Țiriac, former Romanian tennis great, businessman, and longtime patron of the sport—including as the founder of the Madrid Open—sent Zverev a personal message of admiration following the dramatic performance.
According to sources close to both camps, the message was accompanied by one of the most prestigious gifts ever given by Țiriac to an active player, symbolizing both respect and honor. While details of the gift remain private, insiders describe it as “an elite-level token of appreciation reserved for only the greatest fighters in the sport.”
Țiriac’s message reportedly praised Zverev’s “extraordinary mental strength” and compared his courage on the court to that of tennis legends from previous eras. The honor comes as Zverev continues his push for a first-ever grass-court title and prepares for a semi-final showdown with Daniil Medvedev at Halle.
With Wimbledon fast approaching, Zverev’s performance—and the backing of figures like Țiriac—has only strengthened his growing reputation as one of tennis’ fiercest competitors.
Tennis fans worldwide will now watch closely to see whether Zverev can translate this momentum into grass-court glory—and perhaps the ultimate prize in tennis—at Wimbledon next month.
More updates to follow as this story develops.
