Alexander Zverev's victory marks a significant milestone despite a weakened competition lineup.
The absence of top contenders from the Roland Garros field had become stark reality by the second week, yet Alexander Zverev still hadn't claimed his first Grand Slam title at this point.
Related ↗Red Bull's F1 engine performance leaves ADUO stunned.German tennis player Alexander Zverev finally broke his Grand Slam losing streak after three consecutive final defeats with a hard-fought victory over No. 10 seeded Flavio Cobolli, winning 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 in the French Open. His drought without a tournament win lasted over a year, ending at this prestigious event.
Alexander Zverev, ranked world No. 3, had a history of faltering in major tournaments. His struggles were evident in his 2020 US Open loss to Dominic Thiem, which was marred by COVID-19 complications. He also faced setbacks in the 2024 French Open against Carlos Alcaraz and in the 2025 Australian Open against Jannik Sinner.
Read next ↗Dutch cyclist Demi Vollering triumphs in the women's Giro d'Italia, completing a rare feat.Flavio Cobolli's skills were significantly outmatched by Alexander Zverev's, yet he still managed to pose a threat with his agility and precise shots. The contest proved demanding for both competitors, ultimately yielding to Zverev's dominance in the decisive fifth set.
Tears streamed down Zverev's face as he collapsed to the court after Cobolli's errant shot sealed his victory. At 29 years young, Zverev achieved a milestone: becoming the seventh-oldest male tennis player to claim his first major title since records began. This triumph marked Germany's first men's Grand Slam win in over two decades.
The absenceof top contenders from the Roland Garros field had become stark reality by thesecond week, yet Alexander Zverev still hadn't claimed his first Grand Slam title at this point.
Alexander Zverev, ranked world No. 3, had a history of faltering in majortournaments. His struggles were evident in his 2020 USOpen loss to Dominic Thiem, which was marred by COVID-19 complications. He also faced setbacks in the 2024 French Open againstCarlosAlcaraz and in the 2025 Australian Open against JannikSinner.
08Zverev's comfort level shifted dramatically in that match.
Entering the final, there was a significant gap in match experience between the two competitors, following Zverev's four-set victory over Jakub Mensik on Saturday and Cobolli's unopposed entry after Matteo Arnaldi's withdrawal due to illness.
Cobolli's fortunes took an abrupt turn for the worse in the opening set, as he was quickly broken and failed to create a single break opportunity.
The turning points of the match emerged in its middle sets. A remarkable comeback from Cobolli was followed by Zverev's decisive break in the third set. The fourth set witnessed two breaks, with Zverev experiencing cramping issues before regrouping for a tiebreaker. There, Cobolli recovered from an unforced error on his first set point to secure the second set win.
Entering the fifth set, Cobolli held the theoretical upper hand and momentum, but it quickly dissipated as he fell behind a double break and failed to regain traction, ultimately losing his opportunity. At just 24 years young, he'll have more chances to capitalize on similar situations in the future.
Expectations were high for a collapse from Zverev at this stage, given his history of squandering substantial leads under less intense scrutiny. However he demonstrated remarkable composure throughout the match, with only minor double-fault issues (nine total) to detract from his otherwise solid performance. His statistics told a story of dominance: 50-42 in winners, 65-54 in unforced errors and 47-40 in forced errors.
Zverev's backhand has consistently been one of the most reliable shots in his arsenal, and it proved particularly effective in this match. His first serve was also a significant factor, with an impressive 76% success rate that translated to winning points on 73% of occasions. Meanwhile, Zverev's forehand made a notable improvement from past performances, allowing him to dictate long rallies against Cobolli. He emerged victorious in 39 out of 51 prolonged exchanges.
15Alexander Zverev's path to victory opened up in the fourth round.
Zverev's triumph has been accompanied by an unexpected depletion of top-tier competitors throughout the entire tournament.
Carlos Alcaraz's title defense was derailed by an injury, mirroring the fate of highly touted Arthur Fils. Meanwhile, Sinner's campaign came to a sudden halt due to cramping issues in the second round. Djokovic, a three-time Roland Garros champion, also suffered an unexpected defeat at the hands of Joao Fonseca in the third round.
In the fourth round, Alexander Zverev's route to triumph had become surprisingly unobstructed. Only two top-10 ATP players remained in contention: himself and No. 4 seed Felix Auger Aliassime, whose clay-court prowess was not as well-documented as his indoor hardcourt achievements. Zverev's journey to the final had reached a remarkable level of ease, with few genuine challenges standing between him and the championship.
Benjamin Bonzi claimed a decisive win.
Tomas Machac fell short in second round.
Quentin Halys secured a spot in the next round with a score of 6-4, 6-3. He then faced a setback in the third set, losing 5-7 before coming back strong to win 6
Jesper De Jong's opponent fell in the fourth round. De Jong secured a three-set win over his opponent. The match ended with scores of 7-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Rafael Nadal's opponent in the next round was eliminated.
The semifinal stage saw No. 26 seed Jakub Mensik emerge victorious.
Tennis tournaments often defy expectations, but in this case, it's no surprise that Alexander Zverev seized his chance to shine as the sole top player remaining in the second week. He capitalized on an opening that had previously eluded him.
Alexander Zverev's reputation precedes him, but his past controversies don't overshadow his potential as a champion, despite the serious nature of the domestic abuse allegations from two former partners, which he has consistently denied.
The controversy surrounding Alexander Zverev's past was barely touched upon during the TNT broadcast on Sunday. His resolution of one case through a €150,000 fine and €50,000 charitable contribution in 2024 has largely gone unmentioned since then.
Carlos Alcaraz's title defense was derailed by an injury, mirroring the fateof highly toutedArthur Fils. Meanwhile, Sinner'scampaign came toa sudden haltdueto cramping issues in the second round. Djokovic,a three-timeRoland Garros champion, also suffered an unexpected defeat at the hands of Joao Fonseca in the thirdround.
