A long wait ends in Paris
Alexander Zverev has finally crossed the last line that had blocked him for years. The German beat Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in a five-set French Open final on Court Philippe-Chatrier, winning 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1 to capture his first Grand Slam title.
The result carried extra weight because it came in his fourth final, after years of near misses and hard questions about whether he could finish the job when the pressure was highest.
Why this win mattered so much
The number that defined the day was 30. Zverev became the first German man to win a major since Boris Becker in 1996, ending a gap that stretched across an entire generation.
His skill was never in doubt. The issue was always whether he could stay bold, steady, and patient enough in the moments that decide a Slam final.
The decisive changes on court
- His serve became a strength rather than a risk. In past defeats, especially against Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open final, double faults dragged him back into danger. This time, he handled the fifth set with control and finished it 6-1, which showed how much more reliable that shot has become.
- The forehand supported the serve better than before. When the first delivery landed, Zverev could step inside the baseline and take charge of rallies instead of waiting for errors.
- He kept attacking at the right times. Cobolli pushed back in the second and fourth sets, but Zverev did not drift into passivity when the match tightened.
The draw also opened the door
Every major depends on the bracket as well as the player. Carlos Alcaraz withdrew with a wrist injury, Jannik Sinner lost in the second round, and Novak Djokovic fell to teenager Joao Fonseca in the third round.
Zverev still had to win the matches in front of him, including a semifinal against Jakub Mensik, but the top end of the field disappeared earlier than many expected.
A career shaped by bruising finals
| Year | Tournament | Opponent | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | US Open | Dominic Thiem | Lost in five sets |
| 2024 | French Open | Carlos Alcaraz | Lost |
| 2025 | Australian Open | Jannik Sinner | Lost |
| 2026 | French Open | Flavio Cobolli | Won in five sets |
That record explains why this breakthrough felt so heavy. Zverev arrived in Paris carrying the memory of losses, injuries, and the old reputation that he might tighten up when the finish line came into view.
The mental shift
On court, he said the road had included “injury, heartbreaks, losses,” and the emotion was obvious as he cried on the clay after sealing the title.
More than the trophy itself, the win showed that he could stay aggressive when doubt usually surfaced. That may be the most important part of the story.
What comes next
Zverev still remains a polarizing public figure. Two former partners have accused him of domestic abuse. An ATP investigation into the first allegations was closed in 2023 for insufficient evidence, and a later court case ended in a 2024 settlement in which he paid 200,000 euros; BBC Sport reported that this was not a verdict or a finding of guilt. He has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Even so, the sporting meaning of Sunday is clear. With a first major now secured, he will no longer be judged only by what he has failed to finish. Wimbledon is next, and grass should suit his serve even better.
After all the pressure that built around him, Zverev can now say one thing with certainty: no matter what comes next, he is already a Grand Slam champion.
