Alexander Zverev has finally put an end to years of frustration by winning two Grand Slam titles in 2026, a development that left Yannick Noah reflecting on how uncertain the German once felt about ever getting there.

Zverev first lifted a major trophy at the French Open in June, then reinforced that achievement by beating Ben Shelton in the US Open final earlier this month. After so many seasons of falling short against Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, it had sometimes appeared that the next wave of champions, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, would keep the door closed as well.

Noah, who captained Team Europe at last year’s Laver Cup in San Francisco, said Zverev was not in a strong place mentally at the time. The German went on to lose the event’s decisive match to Taylor Fritz, and Noah suggested confidence was part of the issue.

“This guy tried so hard, kept coming back, you know, he’s coming up against Nadal, then he’s coming up against Djokovic and then he’s coming again and it’s Roger,” began Noah, speaking on an episode of the Off Court with Greg Rusedski podcast that will be released on Thursday.

“Then it’s Alcaraz and it’s Sinner, but he kept coming back and suddenly it’s paid off. I was really happy when he won the French Open and then so happy to see his face when he won the US Open. He was like a little child and he didn’t even know he had won at the end.”

Noah expanded on the mood he sensed during that Laver Cup campaign, describing a player who was battling frustration but never stopped pushing.

“Last year he was not in a good place because I could tell that he was getting a little frustrated,” stated the 1983 French Open champion.

“He was tired of trying too hard. But he just kept trying. I think he showed so much resilience over the ten years. He has been No 2, No 3 and he always kept trying. As a player, this is something that you have and as a coach, as a parent. You always say, keep trying, never give up, never give up. But sometimes it’s very hard.

“And it was very hard on Sascha. I got some quality time with him when I say, you know, keep trying, your time will come. But you’re not sure. You hope. You’re trying to be positive about this. You’re trying to be optimistic, but you don’t know.

“And then all of a sudden you when I see him win, when I saw him win the French, I was happy for him because he deserved it. He’s worked so hard for these moments.”

Zverev and Alcaraz now sit at the centre of Noah’s Team Europe plans for the Laver Cup in London, which begins on Friday as they aim to respond to last year’s loss to Team World.

Carlos Alcaraz has said he is ready to make up for lost time as he prepares for his first matches in London in 2026 at the Laver Cup this week, while also offering a striking verdict on one of his European team-mates.

The Spaniard was forced to sit out the grass-court swing in England, missing planned appearances at Queen’s Club and Wimbledon after suffering a wrist injury at the Barcelona Open in April. He returned at the US Open last month, a comeback that many viewed as a surprise, and produced five strong performances before falling in an epic quarter-final to Ben Shelton.

His next stop is Team Europe at the Laver Cup, where he will line up alongside newly crowned US Open champion Alexander Zverev. Zverev had previously praised Alcaraz as ‘amazing’ after they played together in an earlier edition of the event, but this time it was Alcaraz who returned the compliment.

“I agree that he is probably the best player in the world right now,” Alcaraz said of Zverev.

“Having him by my side and on our team, it’s going to be a great weapon to have and we are going to use it.

“I missed lifting the (Laver Cup) trophy last year, so I’m going to do whatever it takes this year.

“The US Open was a great test for me and I can’t wait to play here.”

Alcaraz was beaten by Team World’s Taylor Fritz in last year’s Laver Cup and has made clear that he wants to put that right if they meet again in London.

“He destroyed me last year,” added Alcaraz with a smile. “If I play against him, I will be down with it and I will be ready, for sure.

“It’s great to be back in London. I missed it this year, so it’s going to be the first time I am touching London this year, so I’m excited.

“It’s my first time playing at the 02 Arena and it feels great to be here. It’s a super beautiful stadium and I can’t wait to see it packed and hear the atmosphere from the people.”

Although Alcaraz has faced criticism for playing too many exhibition events, this year’s Laver Cup offers him a useful setting to continue his comeback after the wrist problem. The best-of-three format, with no ranking points on offer, should suit his return while the event also brings a significant appearance fee.

The competition begins on Friday and finishes with the final session at the 02 Arena on Sunday.

The Davis Cup has returned to the spotlight during qualification, and the debate around its identity has only intensified. The current structure remains unpopular with many observers, especially after the move away from best-of-five sets and home-and-away ties in the Finals, replaced instead by an eight-team event staged at the end of the year.

Alexander Zverev has already made clear where he stands. After Germany’s recent win over Croatia, he voiced his frustration with the competition’s current direction, saying: “I hope that the Davis Cup decision-makers will eventually wake up and see what the real Davis Cup is,” Zverev said after Germany’s recent victory against Croatia.

“Because this weekend was the real Cup. What we’re playing in Bologna is absolute rubbish. I hope we return to the old format.”

Now Yannick Noah has added his voice to the criticism. A central figure from one of the Davis Cup’s most respected eras, Noah said the competition no longer reflects what it once was.

“I find it a bit difficult to talk about the Davis Cup today, having experienced the authentic Davis Cup. For me, this isn’t the real Davis Cup. From the beginning, I was against this format,” “I don’t recognize the spirit of the Davis Cup,” said Noah.

“I don’t recognize the spirit of the competition. In my day, and for the generations before and immediately after mine—before this change occurred— we were prepared to do anything to be selected. We were prepared to do anything to play in the Davis Cup.

“Because it was a competition that meant something. It was part of history. There was a tradition. And, overnight, all of that disappeared. And we see that the best players no longer participate.

“It’s true that, back then, there were some players who considered the schedule too demanding and didn’t play. But that was something entirely different. As a spectator today, I find it difficult to be interested in this competition.”

Noah’s relationship with the event is deeply rooted. He reached the final as a player, then later guided France to victory as a coach. He was part of the French side beaten by the United States in the 1982 final, before finally winning the trophy nine years later.

He led Guy Forget and Henri Laconte as France defeated a United States team featuring Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi to claim their first Davis Cup title since 1932. If anyone understands the competition’s place in the sport, it is Noah.