Alexander Zverev is a Grand Slam champion at last. The 29-year-old German fought off nerves, cramps, and a spirited challenge from Flavio Cobolli to win the French Open title in a dramatic five-set final on Sunday evening.
The second seed secured his first major trophy with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1 victory over the 10th-seeded Italian at Roland Garros. Zverev, who had lost his three previous Grand Slam finals, the label of “best player without a major” after a match that veered between clinical dominance and agonizing tension.
“I started playing when I was young and I never expected this kind of result,” Zverev said after the match, clutching the Coupe des Mousquetaires. “Now that I’m here, I just want to make something special possible.”
A Rocky Road to Glory
The match began as a one-sided affair. Zverev raced through the opening set in just 35 minutes, his powerful groundstrokes overwhelming an visibly nervous Cobolli. However, the Italian, playing in his first championship match, settled into the rhythm in the second set, capitalizing on a series of double faults from Zverev to level the match.
After Zverev edged the third set, the tension reached a fever pitch in the fourth. Zverev twice fell a break down, struggled with cramping that required on-court electrolytes, and produced costly double faults. Cobolli failed to serve out the set at 5-4 and squandered a set point in the tie-break by framing a simple forehand volley. The Italian recovered to force a deciding set, keeping the Parisian crowd on edge.
The final set was a battle of attrition. Both men showed signs of anxiety, but Zverev made slightly fewer errors, moving to a double break lead at 3-0. As Cobolli ran out of steam, Zverev dragged himself over the line. When Cobolli sent a smash long on the second match point, Zverev collapsed onto the clay, sobbing into his hands as the realization of his long-awaited triumph sank in.
A New Era Without Sinner or Alcaraz
Zverev’s victory marks the first time since 2023 that a man other than Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz has won a Grand Slam singles title. The duo had swept the past nine majors, but Sinner’s early exit in Paris and Alcaraz’s injury absence opened the door for the rest of the field.
Zverev has been tipped for greatness since his teenage years, but his journey to a major has been fraught with obstacles. Hailed by Roger Federer as a precocious talent, Zverev has comfortably sat inside the top 10 for nearly a decade, winning numerous ATP Tour titles. However, technical issues with his second serve and a tendency to play passively against the elite—first the “Big Three” of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic, and later Sinner and Alcaraz—have previously held him back.
“It’s not done, it’s only the start,” Zverev added, echoing a sentiment of perseverance. With this win, he becomes the first German man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Boris Becker at the 1996 Australian Open.
Cobolli’s Moment
For Flavio Cobolli, the final was a coming-of-age moment. The 24-year-old, who had never advanced beyond the third round in Paris prior to this year, proved that his baseline power, deft touch, and athleticism belong on the biggest stage. A former footballer in Roma’s academy, Cobolli’s run to the final exceeded all expectations.
“Many people thought the final would be contested by an Italian, but they expected Sinner, not me,” Cobolli said. “For me, it’s not done, it’s only the start.”
