Alexander Zverev finally shed the tag of being the best player never to win a Grand Slam, defeating Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 in a gripping French Open final on Sunday to claim the first major title of his career.
In a contest that lasted four hours and 20 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the German overcame the disappointment of seeing a two-sets-to-one lead slip away before producing a dominant display in the decider to secure the Roland Garros crown.
The victory ends years of frustration for Zverev, who had previously fallen short in Grand Slam finals at the US Open in 2020, the French Open in 2024 and the Australian Open in 2025. The world No. 3 dropped to the clay in disbelief after converting championship point, finally ending his wait for a major title.
Zverev made a commanding start, breaking Cobolli in the opening game and racing through the first set in just 34 minutes. His powerful serve and relentless baseline game left the Italian struggling to find any rhythm.
Cobolli, however, responded impressively. Playing in his first Grand Slam final, the 24-year-old raised his level in the second set, mixing aggressive shot-making with delicate drop shots. A crucial break at 4-4 helped him draw level and ignite the Paris crowd.
The third set proved pivotal. With both players holding serve comfortably, Cobolli blinked at 5-4, committing a series of errors that handed Zverev the decisive break and a two-sets-to-one advantage.
The momentum shifted again in the fourth set as nerves crept into Zverev’s game. Cobolli capitalised on a pair of service breaks and, after the German fought back to level at 5-5, held his nerve in the tie-break. The Italian recovered from 1-3 down and sealed the set with a brilliant forehand winner to force a deciding fifth set.
For a brief period, the match appeared to be swinging decisively in Cobolli’s favour. Instead, Zverev delivered his strongest tennis when it mattered most.
The German tightened up on serve, won 83 per cent of his first-serve points and repeatedly forced errors from his opponent. An early break gave him control of the decider, and he never relinquished it, saving all four break points he faced before sealing the final set 6-1.
The title is the crowning achievement of Zverev’s career. Already a two-time ATP Finals champion, a seven-time Masters 1000 winner and an Olympic gold medallist, the 29-year-old can now add a Grand Slam trophy to his résumé.
His triumph also marks a historic moment for German tennis. Zverev became the first German man to win the French Open since Henner Henkel in 1937 and the first German man to capture a Grand Slam title since Boris Becker won the Australian Open in 1996.
For Cobolli, defeat could not overshadow a breakthrough fortnight in Paris. The Italian reached his maiden Grand Slam final and is set to break into the world’s top 10 for the first time.
-IANS
