Image courtesy of Alexander Zverev's Instagram
When Germany's Alexander Zverev lifted the Coupe des Mousquetaires after winning the 2026 French Open, most tennis fans saw the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance and near misses. Zverev had finally secured the Grand Slam title that many believed his talent deserved.
What millions of viewers did not see, however, was another battle taking place throughout the tournament. For Zverev, every training session, recovery day and match involves managing type 1 diabetes alongside the demands of professional tennis. While opponents, coaches and spectators focus on serves, forehands and break points, a parallel process is taking place in the background involving blood sugar levels, insulin, hydration, nutrition and constant decision-making.
His victory at Roland-Garros was therefore more than a tennis milestone. It was also a powerful reminder of how far diabetes management has progressed and what is now possible for people living with type 1 diabetes.
Playing two matches at the same time
Zverev was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of four. For much of his early career he kept the condition private, concerned that people might doubt his ability to compete at the highest level of professional sport. In recent years he has become increasingly open about his diagnosis and the realities of managing diabetes on the ATP Tour.
Speaking to Reuters earlier this year, Zverev described life as an elite athlete with type 1 diabetes in a way that many CGM users may instantly recognise.
"There are definitely two games happening at the same time: there's the match everyone sees and then there's the one only I feel."
It is a description that perfectly captures the experience of many people living with diabetes. The visible challenge may be a tennis match, a football game, a run, a gym session or simply a busy day at work. The invisible challenge is constantly monitoring how food, insulin, exercise, stress and countless other factors influence blood sugar levels.
Most people watching a tennis match never think about those decisions. For people living with diabetes, however, they form part of everyday life.
The technology behind the trophy
One reason Zverev's achievement feels particularly significant is that it reflects the remarkable advances in diabetes technology over the past decade. Previous generations of athletes had far fewer tools available to help them understand what was happening inside their bodies during exercise.
Today, CGMs provide near real-time information about blood sugar trends, while insulin pumps and hybrid-closed loop systems can help people make more informed decisions before, during and after activity.
Zverev has worked with Medtronic Diabetes and uses Medtronic technology as part of his diabetes management. Less than a year before his French Open victory, he announced a global advocacy partnership with the company focused on raising awareness of type 1 diabetes and challenging assumptions about what people living with the condition can achieve.
When announcing the partnership, Zverev reflected on being diagnosed at the age of four and being told that competing at the highest level of sport might not be possible.
"Becoming a professional tennis player was always my dream."
"Early on, I was told that competing at the highest level with diabetes was impossible — but my family and I refused to accept that."
Following his victory at Roland-Garros, Medtronic Diabetes celebrated the achievement on social media with a simple message:
"History made."
The company noted that Zverev had become the first known tennis player living with type 1 diabetes to win a Grand Slam singles title. Medtronic Diabetes South Africa also congratulated its "#MiniMedPartner" on winning Roland-Garros, highlighting that he has lived with type 1 diabetes since the age of four.
For many people living with diabetes, the significance extends beyond tennis. The achievement demonstrates what is possible at a time when CGMs, insulin pumps and hybrid-closed loop systems are providing more support and information than ever before.
While professional athletes have access to specialist medical teams, the principle remains the same for everyone living with diabetes. Better information allows better decisions. That does not mean technology removes the challenge. Even with modern systems, exercise remains one of the most complex aspects of diabetes management, with blood sugar levels responding differently depending on intensity, duration, hydration, stress, weather conditions and insulin on board.
As Zverev explained, preparation is often the key factor that allows both "games" to stay aligned.
"Most of the time it's preparation that keeps them aligned."
For many CGM users, that sentiment will sound familiar. Success rarely comes from reacting to blood sugar levels after they have moved. More often it comes from understanding patterns, learning from experience and making adjustments before exercise, sport or competition begins.
The moment tennis fans questioned Zverev's insulin
One of the most talked-about moments in Zverev's diabetes journey happened at the French Open in 2023. During a match, television cameras captured him administering insulin on court, something he has done throughout his professional career when required. The moment became controversial when an official questioned what he was doing.
Zverev later explained that insulin is not a performance aid or optional treatment. For people living with type 1 diabetes, it is essential.
"If I don't do it, my life will be in danger."
The incident attracted attention far beyond tennis because it highlighted how misunderstood type 1 diabetes can still be, even in elite sport. For many people living with diabetes, the episode felt familiar. Whether in school, the workplace, airports or sporting environments, people with diabetes can sometimes find themselves explaining medical devices, insulin injections or blood sugar management to people who have little understanding of why they are necessary.
Three years later, Zverev returned to Roland-Garros and lifted the French Open trophy. The contrast is striking. A player once forced to explain why he needed insulin on court is now a Grand Slam champion whose success is helping to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes around the world.
His victory does not mean diabetes has become easy to manage. What it does show is that living with type 1 diabetes does not prevent someone from reaching the highest levels of professional sport.
Why tennis presents unique challenges for blood sugar management
Tennis is not like many other sports. A steady walk, cycle ride or jog often produces relatively predictable responses, whereas tennis can be far more variable. A player may spend several minutes engaged in long, physically demanding rallies before having a short recovery period. The next point may be over in seconds, while a match can last less than an hour or continue for four or five hours depending on the opponent and conditions.
The psychological demands can be just as significant. Adrenaline, pressure and nerves can sometimes push blood sugar levels higher even while the body is working hard physically.
This is a theme that appears repeatedly in diabetes forums and online communities. Many recreational tennis players report that practice sessions often affect blood sugar levels differently from competitive matches. Some experience falling glucose levels during training but see temporary rises during tournaments because of the additional stress and excitement.
Heat is another commonly mentioned challenge. With Wimbledon approaching and many club players spending long periods outdoors during the summer months, hot conditions can increase dehydration risk and make glucose patterns more difficult to predict. For many CGM users, understanding those patterns becomes an ongoing process of learning and adaptation rather than following a single formula.
What people with diabetes say about tennis
Online diabetes forums reveal several recurring themes among recreational and competitive tennis players. One of the most common observations is that competitive matches often affect blood sugar differently from practice sessions. Many players describe seeing higher readings during tournaments because of adrenaline, despite working just as hard physically.
Another frequently mentioned lesson is that there is rarely a perfect formula. Weather conditions, sleep, hydration, insulin on board, pre-match meals and match intensity can all influence the outcome. Several players describe using changeovers as opportunities to check CGM readings and trend arrows, allowing them to spot potential problems before they develop into significant highs or lows.
Perhaps the most repeated piece of advice is not to compare blood sugar responses too closely with other players. Experienced tennis players with diabetes often emphasise that learning individual patterns is more valuable than copying someone else's strategy.
Wimbledon, spectators and the hidden match at home
The lessons from Zverev's French Open victory extend beyond the tennis court. Over the coming weeks, millions of people will spend long afternoons and evenings watching Wimbledon.
For people living with diabetes, major sporting events often bring changes in routine that can affect blood sugar levels just as much as sport itself. Meals may be delayed, snacks become more frequent and drinks are consumed over several hours rather than with a single meal. A five-set thriller can suddenly turn into an all-day event.
Some people report prolonged rises after grazing on snacks throughout a match, while others find that beer, cider or takeaway food can affect glucose levels differently when consumed over several hours. Alcohol can create its own challenges. Beer and cider may initially raise blood sugar levels because of their carbohydrate content, while the alcohol itself can increase the risk of delayed lows later in the evening or overnight. Wine often has less immediate impact on glucose levels than beer, while spirits can vary significantly depending on the mixer used.
CGMs can be particularly useful in these situations because they reveal trends rather than isolated readings. Seeing how blood sugar levels respond across an entire afternoon of tennis often provides insights that a single finger-prick test would never reveal.
A different future for people living with diabetes
The significance of Zverev's French Open victory goes far beyond a single tennis tournament. For previous generations, type 1 diabetes often came with assumptions about limitations and barriers, with elite sport frequently viewed as one of them.
Today, the picture looks very different. Modern diabetes technology does not remove the realities of living with diabetes, but it can provide confidence, information and support that previous generations simply did not have access to. The result is a growing list of athletes proving that diabetes does not determine what someone can achieve.
Zverev himself has said:
"I want every person with diabetes to feel empowered to live the life they want."
Alexander Zverev's French Open triumph will rightly be remembered as a tennis achievement. It may also be remembered as a reminder that behind every visible success story, there is often another match taking place that most people never see.
The story is not over yet. In just a few weeks, attention will turn to Wimbledon, where Zverev will once again take to the court as one of the favourites for another Grand Slam title. The challenge of adapting from clay to grass will be visible to every tennis fan. The challenge of managing type 1 diabetes throughout another major tournament will remain largely unseen.
Whether he lifts the trophy in London or not, his French Open victory has already delivered an important message. Living with type 1 diabetes may mean playing two matches at once, but it does not mean either of them cannot be won.
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