Alexander Zverev finally captured the Grand Slam title that had long slipped from him, defeating Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1 in a tense French Open final on Sunday to secure the first major championship of his career.
The second-seeded German overcame both a resilient challenge from Cobolli and the pressure of three previous Grand Slam final defeats to lift the trophy in Paris. The victory ends years of near misses and establishes Zverev as the first player outside Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz to win a major singles title since 2023.
Zverev appeared in complete control early on, racing through the opening set and responding strongly after Cobolli levelled the match in the second. However, nerves began to surface as the contest progressed, particularly during a dramatic fourth set in which Zverev struggled with double faults, surrendered breaks of serve and required treatment for cramp.
Cobolli, playing in his first Grand Slam final, showed resilience throughout the match. The Italian recovered from failing to serve out the fourth set and saved himself from disappointment after squandering an early set point in the tie-break, eventually forcing a deciding set.
But the 24-year-old could not maintain the intensity in the fifth. Zverev capitalised on a series of errors to build a commanding 3-0 lead before closing out the match as Cobolli faded physically.
When Cobolli sent a smash long on Zverev’s second championship point, the German collapsed onto the clay in celebration and emotion, ending a wait that had threatened to define his career.
The triumph comes at a time when the men’s game appeared more open than it has been in recent years. With Sinner exiting early and Alcaraz sidelined through injury, Zverev embraced his status as tournament favourite and delivered the breakthrough success many had expected for years.
Oluwagbemisola Babalola
Follow us on:
