Four years ago, Alexander Zverev was taken off Court Phillippe-Chatrier in a wheelchair, another chance at Grand Slam glory gone.

The German had been a set up in the semi-final against the great Rafael Nadal in the 2022 French Open when he suffered a nasty fall that left him screaming in pain.

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Zverev tore ligaments in his right ankle in what was the worst injury of his career and missed several months of the season after undergoing surgery.

But 1,465 days later, he walked off the same court with his first – and long-awaited – Grand Slam trophy tucked under his arm after beating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in a tense five-set final in Paris.

“This court is so special to me in so many ways,” Zverev, 29, said.

“I have had the best moments and the worst moment of my life on this court.

“I was laid in that corner four years ago with seven broken ligaments and two fractured bones. I lost a Grand Slam final here two years ago.

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“But now, finally, it is a happy ending.”

Zverev had long been dubbed the best player of his generation to have never won a Grand Slam after a string of near misses – including three defeats in major finals.

At the US Open in 2020, he lost the final despite being two sets up against Dominic Thiem and having served for the championship at 5-3 in the final set.

He led Carlos Alcaraz by two sets to one in the 2024 French Open final but it was the Spaniard who ended up lifting his first Coupe des Mousquetaires.

At the Australian Open in 2025, he was outclassed in a merciless performance by Jannik Sinner that left Zverev saying he felt mentally “empty” a few months later.

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“Last year was one of the most difficult moments in my tennis career,” Zverev said.

“This year is one of the happiest moments. It’s a very different feeling right now.”

It seemed like the pressure of a Grand Slam final might prove too much for a fourth time when 24-year-old Cobolli, who had twice fought back from a set down, forced a deciding fifth set.

But Zverev, who has struggled with his emotions on court in the past, held his nerve to end his major final curse.

After falling flat on his back in celebration, Zverev dedicated his victory to his team, which includes his father and brother.

“We have been through injury, heartbreaks, losses. We have been losers at times in the most important moments,” Zverev said.

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“At the end of the day, we are Grand Slam champions now and that is what counts.

“I was laying on this court with an injury that I didn’t know if I will ever come back from. All of those memories, they’re not wiped out,” he said.

“They’re still with me but this one will beat all of them.”

Zverev’s path to the trophy opened up when top seed Sinner, the heavy favourite, fell to a shock second-round defeat by Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

Two-time defending champion and world number two Alcaraz had withdrawn a month before the tournament with a wrist injury.

And 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic, who has won three titles in Paris, was removed from the conversation when he lost to Joao Fonseca in the third round.

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Cobolli was the first player that Zverev faced who resided in the world’s top 25.

This was simply Zverev’s best chance to win his first Grand Slam – and he cannot be faulted for grabbing it with both hands.

Nadal, who helped him off the court after his nasty ankle injury in 2022, was one of the first to congratulate Zverev.

“Congratulations Alexander Zverev on winning Roland Garros. So well deserved after all the hard work and perseverance. You’ve been chasing your first Grand Slam for a long time and you absolutely deserve it,” Nadal wrote on social media.

Zverev is a polarising figure who has previously been involved in controversy.

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In October 2023, he was given a penalty order and fined 450,000 euros (£392,000) for bodily harm against his ex-partner, who he shares a child with.

Zverev denied the claims and lodged an objection against the order, which resulted in a public trial in May 2024. The trial was discontinued a week into the proceedings.

At the time, the court told BBC Sport: “The decision is not a verdict and it is not a decision about guilt or innocence.”

The court also told the BBC there was a separate settlement between Zverev and his ex-girlfriend.

Zverev was also accused in October 2020 of physical violence and controlling behaviour by another former girlfriend.

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He maintained his innocence from the start and always described the allegations as baseless. There were no legal proceedings.

The Minnesota Vikings will feature about eight new starters in 2026, from Kyler Murray at quarterback to possibly two rookie defensive tackles — and even a punter if one considers that position a starter. And with the summer here, we asked VikingsTerritory writers to lift up their main concerns for the 2026 squad.

With a wide array of responses, the group wasn’t shy about addressing the franchise’s current weaknesses.

VikingsTerritory’s Roundtable Points to Some Raised Eyebrows

1. The General Roster Depth

VT Writer: Henrique Gucciardi

The Vikings have a great starting lineup, one I truly believe can make a playoff run. However, one of the biggest downsides of bad drafts is a lack of depth. Particularly in the secondary, interior offensive line, and edge rushers, an injury can derail the entire season.

2. The Defensive Secondary

VT Writer: Adam New

At both cornerback and safety, the Vikings are lacking in quality. The team will hope Brian Flores and the defensive front can cover up some of the secondary’s deficiencies; if they can’t, then Minnesota will have a problem.

3. The Safety Position

VT Writer: Ali Siddiqui

Whether Harrison Smith is back or not, that’s a position of concern. Theo Jackson is okay, and Josh Metellus, while very versatile, isn’t very good in coverage. Smith is a future Hall of Famer, no doubt, but he isn’t the same player he once was. Jakobe Thomas is also unproven. The Vikings should definitely try to add a safety sometime before the season starts.

4. Health

VT Writer: Cole Smith

My biggest concern for the 2026 Vikings is their health. Injuries derailed not only J.J. McCarthy’s 2025 season but also the offensive line. Kyler Murray has only played a full season once in the last four years. Get requisite health, and the Vikings could be poised to bounce back this year.

5. The Rushing Offense

VT Writer: Dustin Baker

Kevin O’Connell has not created an efficient rushing offense, and he’s entering his fifth season. Running the ball effectively is the missing link for O’Connell’s offense — and the team as a whole. It’s why drafting Jonah Coleman or Mike Washington might’ve been the meal ticket or anyone running back from 2025’s deep class.

Before too long, O’Connell must commit to the run — more than giving it lip service. It can be the almighty fix to the Vikings’ problems, even when the quarterback performance sputters, as it did in 2025.

Just run the damn ball at a balanced ratio. We will continue to say this; the request is easy. Take the soup out of the can, pour it into a bowl, put it in the microwave, and press the button. Not difficult.

6. The Whole QB Situation

VT Writer: Tony Schultz

All eyes will be on the quarterbacks in Minnesota, even after a decision has been made. There is already a rift forming in the fan base over JJ and Kyler. Shots are being fired over how each performs, picking on video game playing and being “9”. Maturity is being questioned in every quote, as is dedication.

My main concern is not who wins the competition because I want the team to win. Whoever steps in behind center, I will cheer for them, but I will still be critical of their performance if it is bad. Murray isn’t going to grow any taller, and McCarthy still has mental growth ahead of him. I don’t want it to engulf the season to the point where fans miss out on how the team is doing.

Along with that, if Murray is the starter, I don’t want McCarthy traded. I’m hoping he can sit back, evaluate how he needs to grow, and show patience with himself and the team. O’Connell knows teams quit on young QBs too early, too often, and I want McCarthy to see that and know his opportunity may still be in Minnesota with the team around him.

t7. The OLBs

VT Writer: Ted Schwerzler

The EDGE rusher group leaves a lot to be desired. Moving on from Greenard made sense from a financial standpoint, but unless Dallas Turner is ready to rock and Andrew Van Ginkel is fully healthy, the entire defense will take a hit.

t7. The OLBs

VT Writer: Steve Hoikkala

My biggest concerns are primarily the edge position, which I expect us to fill before training camp (FA’s Jadaveon Clowney/Leonard Floyd?), and the depth at safety.

If Harrison Smith does not re-sign, we have some serious questions to answer, and I believe we are taking a big risk in the back end of our defense. Brian Flores has to hope our young defensive tackles step up and provide enough pressure with a healthy AVG and Dallas Turner to mask that potential weakness.

t8. The Unproven Defensive Front

VT Writer: Janik Eckardt

The Vikings have only two pass-rushers with meaningful NFL experience under contract. Furthermore, after swapping Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen for a couple of rookies, the Vikings have to rely on a bunch of inexperienced players all over the place. Brian Flores has been a magician over the years, and he might once again be asked to pull a rabbit out of a hat.

t8. The Defensive Front Seven

VT Writer: Kyle Joudry

The main concern for the roster is within the front seven. Dallas Turner needs to elevate, Eric Wilson needs to replicate, and Jake Golday can’t have a redshirt season. So, too, is there much faith being put in Caleb Banks (still recovering from injury) and Domonique Orange. It could work, but there are many ways the front seven could struggle.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

TORONTO (AP) — Brittney Sykes scored 25 points, Nyara Sabally added 15 and the Toronto Tempo beat the Chicago Sky 85-68 on Sunday.

Isabelle Harrison, who missed the first 10 games of the season with a thumb injury, finished with 14 points in her season debut and Laura Juskaite scored 10 for the Tempo (6-5). Marina Mabrey added nine points, six assists, four rebounds, two steals and a block.

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Azura Stevens had a season-high 18 points and 10 rebounds for Chicago, her second consecutive game with a double-double. Gabriela Jaquez (knee) returned from a four-game absence and finished with 11 points, and Jacy Sheldon scored 10.

The Sky (4-7) beat Connecticut 85-80 on Friday to snap a five-game skid.

Harrison hit a 3-pointer with 4:12 left in the first quarter that made it 20-9 and the Tempo led by double figures the rest of the way.

The Tempo set season lows for 3-pointers made (four) and 3-point percentage (18.2%).

Rookie Kiki Rice (ankle) did not play for Toronto.

Toronto beat the Sky 111-104 behind a career-high 29 points from Sabally on Friday in Chicago.

Up next

Sky: Host Atlanta on Tuesday.

Tempo: Host Connecticut on Wednesday.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Tom Brady has found himself at the center of a major controversy after a clip of his controversial take on NFL practice squad players went viral. During an appearance on the “Champion Mindset” podcast on May 31, the seven-time Super Bowl champion shared his stance on practice squad players.

“I realized was a lot of guys on those practice squads, they don’t want to be elevated to the roster,” Brady said. “They’re very happy living this life where they could tell their family and friends, which I have no problem with that. But the reality is a lot of guys don’t want the pressure of dealing with top.”

Carolina Panthers veteran cornerback Michael Jackson Sr., who spent the early portion of his career fighting through the practice squad with the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and New England Patriots, pushed back against Brady’s comments on Saturday on X.

“How can somebody who ain’t never been on p squad talk about it ain’t shit sweet about knowing you can be gone bc any position group got hit with injuries and we not even talking about the insurance or not getting paid in the offseason bro 🧢,” Jackson Sr. tweeted.

Entering the league as a fifth-round draft pick by Dallas in 2019, Jackson was cut and relegated to the practice squad before bouncing around the league’s developmental rosters.

Jackson earned a reserve/future contract with the Seattle Seahawks, eventually forcing his way into a full-time starting role in 2022, where he started all 17 games and racked up 75 tackles, 12 pass deflections, and an interception. Now, he is a reliable veteran presence for the Panthers and led the league in pass deflections in 2025. He signed a two-year, $10.5 million contract with the franchise in March 2025, as per Spotrac.

Also Read: “They did terrible job of building around Tom Brady”: NFL analyst calls out Under Armor after Steph Curry signs sneaker deal with Chinese company

Also Read: “You are definitely wrong”: Tom Brady’s practice squad argument gets called out by Joe Burrow’s former teammate

Lil’Jordan Humphrey claps back at Tom Brady’s practice squad comments

Denver Broncos wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey disagreed with Tom Brady’s assessment of NFL practice squad players last week. He challenged the three-time NFL MVP on social media hours after the clip surfaced.

“Haven’t met one person who is okay with just being on the PSquad,” Humphrey tweeted.

Brady said that practice squad players are valuable because they can be elevated when injuries occur, but argued that some struggle when asked to perform under the spotlight.