Alexander Zverev would never trade his Olympic gold for a Grand Slam title

PARIS (AP) — Alexander Zverev has lost three Grand Slam finals but would never swap a victory in one of those for the Olympic gold medal he owns.

The big-serving German won the men's singles at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 to go with the 24 titles he's won on the ATP tour. After reaching the French Open semifinals on Tuesday, beating Spaniard Rafael Jodar 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-3, Zverev was asked if he would ever trade his gold for an elusive major if he could do so.

“No chance. The gold medal for me is the most difficult thing to win, because you get a chance once every four years,” Zverev said. “You do it for your country. You do it for the people back home. I will never trade my gold medal for anything, but I wouldn’t mind to add a few things to my list as well.”

Like a major title, for example.

He has never won one despite reaching three finals — leading in two — and getting to at least two semifinals at every Grand Slam except Wimbledon, where he has not been past the fourth round.

The most notable loss at a championship decider was the first, when he wasted a two-set lead in the 2020 US Open final against Austrian Dominic Thiem. Defeat was even more galling because Thiem became the first man in 71 years to win that tournament after dropping the opening two sets.

Then, Zverev led 2-1 in sets against Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz in the 2024 French Open final, and lost that one, too. He was resoundingly beaten in straight sets by Italian Jannik Sinner in the 2025 Australian Open final.

But with Alcaraz missing the French Open because of a wrist injury and Sinner eliminated in the second round followed by Novak Djokovic in the third round, the second-seeded Zverev's chances have greatly improved at Roland Garros.

“I feel like the draw opened up a lot on the top half,” the 29-year-old Zverev said. “Of course, with Joao Fonseca beating Djokovic, it’s a big match that opened up the draw.”

Zverev's semifinal opponent will be the winner of Tuesday's later quarterfinal between the 19-year-old Brazilian Fonseca and the 20-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik.

“We have fantastic players that are young on the tour right now; we have a lot of potential,” Zverev said. “I have to trust myself, trust my game.”

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Spain's Rafael Jodar returns to Germany's Alexander Zverev during the quarterfinal tennis match at the French Open in Paris, Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Germany's Alexander Zverev returns to Spain's Rafael Jodarduring the quarterfinal tennis match at the French Open in Paris, Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)

Germany's Alexander Zverev returns to Spain's Rafael Jodarduring the quarterfinal tennis match at the French Open in Paris, Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)

Germany's Alexander Zverev returns to Spain's Rafael Jodarduring the quarterfinal tennis match at the French Open in Paris, Tuesday, June 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Emma Da Silva)

A record 1,248 players representing 48 nations are on the final World Cup rosters released by FIFA on Tuesday.

The rosters include Lionel Messi of Argentina, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Guillermo Ochoa of Mexico, who will be competing in the World Cup for a record sixth time.

Of the players in 104 matches in Canada, the United States and Mexico, 357 have competed in at least one previous World Cup while about 891 players are in the event for the first time.

The rosters reflect a wide range of ages, with more than 25 years separating the oldest and youngest player. Scotland's Craig Gordon is 43 years, 162 days old. Mexico's Gilberto Mora is 17 years, 240 days old as one of 22 players in the field younger than 20. Seven players are 40 or older.

Four nations — Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan — are competing in the World Cup for the first time.

According to FIFA regulations, replacements to the rosters are permitted only due to serious injury or illness up to 24 hours before a team’s first match. Any exceptions must be approved by FIFA.

AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

FILE - Argentina's Lionel Messi dribbles during a friendly soccer match against Zambia in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello, File)

FILE - Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo scores his side's second goal from the penalty spot during a World Cup 2026 group F qualifying soccer match between Hungary and Portugal at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos, File)