As Alexander Zverev lay on his back on the center court of the French Open, hands covering his face and tears streaming down, a wave of realization washed over him: he had finally achieved his dream of becoming a Grand Slam champion.
This was the very court where, in 2022, he had twisted his right ankle and collapsed in pain, being wheeled off during a semifinal match against Rafael Nadal.
It was also the same court where he squandered a two sets to one advantage against Carlos Alcaraz in the championship clash of 2024.
“All the feelings came pouring out because this court holds a very special place in my heart. It’s special in a highly positive manner, but also in a negative one, as I faced some of my hardest moments here,” Zverev expressed.
“I once lay on this court with an injury, uncertain if I would ever return. I lost a Grand Slam final here, so those memories remain with me. However, this victory surpasses them all.”
After countless missed chances, Zverev has shed the label of being one of the top players yet to capture a major title.
In his fourth appearance in a major final, Zverev triumphed over Flavio Cobolli with scores of 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1 to claim the French Open title.
Zverev seized a rare opportunity without Jannik Sinner or Alcaraz as his opponent, fully capitalizing on the red clay of Roland Garros.
When Cobolli missed an overhead on the second championship point, after more than four hours of the five-set match, Zverev joined an exclusive group of players who secured their first major title in their fourth final, including eight-time major winner Andre Agassi, Goran Ivanisevic, the 2001 Wimbledon champion, and Dominic Thiem, the 2020 U.S. Open champion.
Upon finally securing the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy, Zverev flipped it upside down, held it between his legs, and then raised it triumphantly above his head with a jubilant shout.
“This trophy means a lot to me because had I lost this match, my self-belief would have significantly diminished,” Zverev stated. “Now that I’ve won it, I feel empowered to do it again.”
No Sinner or Alcaraz
Zverev had emerged as a strong favorite for the title once the top-ranked Sinner struggled during the opening week’s heat and squandered a two sets and 5-1 lead against Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round. The following day, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic was also eliminated.
Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion, withdrew prior to the tournament due to a right wrist injury.
Zverev had also lost a two sets to none lead in the 2020 U.S. Open final to Thiem and suffered a straight sets defeat to Sinner in the 2025 Australian Open final.
This victory marks the 25th title in Zverev’s career.
Cobolli’s 1st Slam final
Cobolli, ranked 14th, had never advanced beyond a Grand Slam quarterfinal prior to this week. He aimed to become the first Italian man to lift the singles trophy at Roland Garros since Adriano Panatta achieved this feat 50 years ago.
He hails from the same tennis club in Rome as Panatta, who was invited by tournament organizers to present the trophy in honor of his 1976 victory.
However, the accolades went to Zverev.
Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva claimed the women’s singles trophy on Saturday.
Zverev took control early on
The match unfolded under ideal conditions, and Zverev showcased nearly flawless gameplay from the outset as Cobolli seemed anxious.
A group of women in the audience waved letters to spell out Zverev’s nickname: “Sascha.”
Cobolli prefers to position himself close to the court’s corner, delivering powerful kick serves into the ad court. Zverev anticipated this tactic and returned one of Cobolli’s kick serves early in the first set with a backhand shot that wrapped around the outside of the net post. Although Cobolli won that point, it sent a clear message that Zverev was prepared for his opponent’s strategy.
On the next attempt at a wrap-around return, Zverev succeeded, taking the point from Cobolli.
Cobolli’s fans in his box donned blue outfits, representing Italy’s national colors, and as he clawed his way back into the match, chants of “Ole, Ole, Ole; Flavio, Flavio” filled the air.
As the match progressed, both players received treatment from trainers, with Cobolli appearing to tire in the fifth set.
“He deserved it more than me at the end of the match,” Cobolli remarked, mentioning that cramps had hindered his performance.
Zverev noted that his cramps were “more mental,” adding, “I believe that the cramp actually helped me to some extent, as I loosened up and struck my shots more freely.”
Abuse allegations
Shortly after Zverev’s previous Grand Slam final in Australia in 2025, a voice from the crowd called out the names of two of his former girlfriends who accused him of physical abuse.
One case was settled following an agreement between German prosecutors, Zverev’s legal team, and his ex-partner. The ATP Tour investigated another allegation but found insufficient evidence.