One of the keys to success is to be at the right place at the right time. Alexander Zverev certainly was when he won his maiden Major at Roland-Garros earlier this month.

Carlos Alcaraz was absent. Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic bowed out early. And the German himself was playing some fine tennis on what was — and is — his most productive surface.

The title was his for the taking, and he did not disappoint, fighting off a spirited Flavio Cobolli over five sets in the summit clash.

After three losses in Grand Slam finals, the success in Paris would have brought as much relief as joy.

“It’s both,” Zverev told The Hindu from Halle, Germany. “I was very joyful. But overall, it will not bring many changes. I will continue to practise the same way and play the same way. I love playing tennis and that won’t change.”

Zverev admitted to having doubts that he would never win a Slam. In fact, he was in a winning position in two of the three title matches — against Dominic Thiem at the 2020 US Open and versus Alcaraz at the 2024 French Open — but blew both.

“Of course, you have those thoughts. It’s normal when you lose three Slam finals. And when you are in your fourth, you have a lot of ghosts in your mind. But in the end, I did it.”

The 29-year-old’s focus will now shift to Wimbledon, where he is the second seed like at the French Open.

He has warmed up well by reaching the semifinals in Halle, but grass is not his strength. At the All England Club, he has an uninspiring 16-9 win-loss record and has never progressed beyond the fourth round.

Germany has a great history of grass-court tennis, having produced champions such as Steffi Graf, Boris Becker, Michael Stich and Angelique Kerber. Can Zverev aim to join them?

“It’s a difficult surface for me and that will never change,” he said.

“But I am happy to accept the challenge, and try and play my best tennis. I feel that I am playing good tennis right now. I just have to show it on a grass court”.