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Alexander Zverev broke down in tears on the French Open’s center court Sunday, overwhelmed with emotion as he finally claimed his first Grand Slam title. The victory marked a triumphant moment on the very clay where he suffered some of his toughest setbacks, including a painful ankle injury against Rafael Nadal in 2022 and a heartbreaking loss after leading in the 2024 final to Carlos Alcaraz.
“This court is very special to me,” Zverev said. “It’s special in a positive way, but also in a negative way, because I had some of the toughest moments of my life here. I was lying on this court with an injury I didn’t know if I would ever come back from. I lost a Grand Slam final here, so all of those memories are still with me, but this one beats them all.”
In his fourth major final, Zverev defeated Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1 to win the French Open title. With Jannik Sinner and reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz absent from the tournament—Sinner faltering early and Alcaraz withdrawing due to injury—Zverev seized a rare opportunity on the red clay of Roland Garros.
When Cobolli netted an overhead on the second championship point after more than four hours of play, Zverev joined an exclusive group of players who won their first major in their fourth Grand Slam final, alongside Andre Agassi, Goran Ivanisevic, and Dominic Thiem.
Holding the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy at last, Zverev flipped it upside down, placed it between his legs, and raised it above his head with a roaring celebration. “This trophy means a lot to me because if I had lost, my self-belief would have taken a big hit,” he said. “Now that I’ve won it, I feel like I can do it again.”
Zverev entered the tournament as a strong favorite after top-ranked players faced setbacks. Sinner collapsed from a two-set and 5-1 lead against Juan Manuel Cerundolo in the second round, and Novak Djokovic was eliminated shortly after. Alcaraz, meanwhile, withdrew before the event due to a wrist injury.
This French Open victory marks the 25th title of Zverev’s career. His previous Grand Slam final attempts included a loss after leading two sets to none at the 2020 U.S. Open against Thiem and a straight-sets defeat by Sinner at the 2025 Australian Open.
For Cobolli, ranked 14th, this was his first Grand Slam final. He had never gone beyond the quarterfinals before this week. The Italian was aiming to become the first man from Italy to win the French Open singles title since Adriano Panatta half a century ago. Cobolli even hails from the same tennis club in Rome as Panatta, who presented the trophy at the ceremony to mark the anniversary of his 1976 triumph. But the honors ultimately went to Zverev.
The match unfolded under perfect conditions, with Zverev jumping out to an early lead as Cobolli appeared nervous. Fans held up signs spelling out Zverev’s nickname “Sascha.” On defense, Zverev expertly returned Cobolli’s trademark wide kick serves with tricky backhand shots that wrapped around the net post, signaling his readiness to counter.
Cobolli’s supporters, dressed in Italy’s blue, rallied with chants of “Ole, Ole, Ole; Flavio, Flavio” as he fought back into the contest. Both players received treatment during the match, and Cobolli appeared to run low on energy in the fifth set.
“He deserved it more than me at the end of the match,” Cobolli admitted, noting he was hampered by cramps. Zverev said his own cramps were “more mental,” and surprisingly helped him relax and play more freely.
Earlier controversies lingered from Zverev’s career. After his 2025 Australian Open final, an individual shouted the names of two ex-girlfriends who had accused him of physical abuse. One case was resolved through legal agreements, while an ATP investigation found insufficient evidence for the other.
Despite those shadows, Zverev’s breakthrough victory at Roland Garros stands as a milestone, affirming his place among tennis’s elite as he seizes the Grand Slam success he has long pursued.