Alexander Zverev Claims First Grand Slam Title at French Open AfterDefeating Cobolli in Five Sets

PARIS — In recent Grand Slam finals, the tournament’s dominant forces have typically dominated the men’s tennis landscape.

Whenever fans tuned in, either two all-time greats were facing off, or one was dismantling a player clearly beneath their generational tier. Over the past five years, some of the most memorable men’s finals in tennis history have unfolded, including Carlos Alcaraz’s comeback victory over Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2023 and Alcaraz’s epic five-set battle with Jannik Sinner at the French Open last year.

Sunday’s final in Paris, however, marked a different kind of moment. Alexander Zverev claimed his first Grand Slam title, defeating Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 in a match that lasted four hours and 16 minutes.

Cobolli, making his Grand Slam final debut, showed flashes of brilliance but ultimately succumbed to fatigue and inconsistencies. The 19-year-old Italian had rushed the net in the decider only to shank an overhead shot dramatically off the court, sealing Zverev’s breakthrough victory.

This final represented something unique in tennis: a contest among emerging talents rather than established elites. With top players like Alcaraz, Sinner, and Djokovic absent due to injury and illness, the French Open became a stage for the next generation to compete for tennis’s ultimate prize.

Alexander Zverev and Flavio Cobolli both felt considerable tension during their French Open final meeting. (Julien de Rosa / AFP via Getty Images)

Zverev’s path to victory wasn’t smooth. Coming into the final seeking his first Grand Slam title, he had previously reached the 2020 U.S. Open final and lost to Dominic Thiem. Since then, he’d fallen in finals at the French Open in 2022 and the Australian Open in January 2025.

In this match, Zverev struggled with consistency, particularly in the fifth set where he hit six winners but also committed nine unforced errors. His backhand faltered and he double-faulted three times, but Cobolli’s physical condition deteriorated even more visibly.

The young Italian’s journey to the final was remarkable. Three years ago, Alcaraz had dispatched him in straight sets at the French Open. Two years ago, he’d been overwhelmed by Rafael Nadal. This time, he pushed the reigning champion to five sets before succumbing to cramping and exhaustion in the decisive moments.

“I felt completely tired and my body left me on the court,” Cobolli said. Despite the loss, his performance signaled he belongs among the sport’s rising stars.

For Zverev, the victory erased memories of previous heartbreaks, including a severe ankle injury in a 2022 French Open semifinal against Nadal and his 2022 final loss to Alcaraz. “If you call me the worst player to win a Grand Slam, I could not care less,” he said, reflecting on his breakthrough moment.

The final demonstrated that even without tennis’s traditional apex predators, compelling stories and memorable moments can emerge. Zverev’s first Grand Slam title Mayuran Siriveldura joins the pantheon of tennis achievement, proving that greatness comes in many forms.

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