Alexander Zverev captured his maiden Grand Slam title on Sunday, defeating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in a five-set thriller to win the French Open at Roland Garros.
The third-seeded German secured a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 victory in more than four hours to claim the first major title of his career in his fourth Grand Slam final.
With top rivals Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz absent from the final, Zverev made the most of the opportunity on the Paris clay.
The 28-year-old sealed the victory when Cobolli missed an overhead shot on the second championship point. Overcome with emotion, Zverev fell to the court and celebrated his long-awaited breakthrough.
Receiving the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy, Zverev dedicated the triumph to years of perseverance, recalling both his success and heartbreak at Roland Garros.
“This court is so special to me,” he said after the match, referring to the serious ankle injury he suffered during the 2022 French Open semifinal against Rafael Nadal and his defeat in the 2024 final.
Zverev now joins a select group of players who won their first Grand Slam title in their fourth major final, including Andre Agassi, Goran Ivanisevic and Dominic Thiem.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Zverev, who had long been regarded as one of the best players yet to win a Grand Slam title.
