PARIS: After suffering heartbreak in three previous Grand Slam finals, Alexander Zverev finally claimed the title he had chased for years, defeating Flavio Cobolli in a grueling five-set French Open final to secure his maiden major crown.
The German battled past the 10th-seeded Italian 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 in a match that tested both players physically and mentally on the clay courts of Roland Garros. It was Zverev’s first tournament victory of any kind in more than a year, making the achievement even more significant.
Entering the final, the world No. 3 carried the weight of painful memories from tennis’ biggest stages. He squandered a two-set lead against Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open final, fell short against Carlos Alcaraz after leading by two sets to one in the 2024 French Open final, and was outplayed by Jannik Sinner in the 2025 Australian Open championship match.
While Cobolli lacked the Grand Slam pedigree of those opponents, the Italian’s athleticism and shot-making ensured another stern test. After nearly four hours of intense tennis, Zverev raised his level in the deciding set, dominating proceedings to close out the biggest victory of his career.
When Cobolli’s final forehand drifted beyond the baseline, emotion overwhelmed the German. Zverev collapsed onto the clay and burst into tears, ending a journey defined by near misses and disappointment.
At 29, he becomes the seventh-oldest man in the Open Era to win his first Grand Slam singles title and the first German man to capture a major championship since 1996. For Zverev, the long wait is finally over.
