A long road ends

Alexander Zverev finally stood on Court Philippe Chatrier as a Grand Slam champion on Sunday, defeating Italy's Flavio Cobolli in a five-set French Open final. The 29-year-old German, who had lost his three previous major finals, completed one of the sport's most arduous journeys to a title. Four years after leaving Roland Garros in a wheelchair with seven broken bones in his foot, and two years after losing the 2024 Paris final to Carlos Alcaraz, Zverev claimed the trophy that had long eluded him.

“We've been through so much through injuries, through heartbreak, through losses. We've been losers at some moments, but we're Grand Slam champions now. That's what counts.”

Zverev paid tribute to the team that remained by his side through the setbacks, joking that he could not get rid of either his father, who has coached him throughout his career, or his brother Mischa. He also thanked his physical trainer, who has worked with him since 2014.

Cobolli's body gives out

A first-time Grand Slam finalist, the 24-year-old Italian looked on the verge of a major upset before his body failed him in the decisive set. Cobolli hit Zverev hard with his big forehand and pushed the German deep into the match, but cramps in his calf and quad left him unable to respond after Zverev took a 2-0 lead in the fifth.

“I felt cramps on my calf. I tried all my best on the changeover. I took all five minutes. But, you know, my calf was gone.”

Cobolli committed 65 unforced errors with his high-risk approach, but his aggressive play forced the second seed into a fifth set. The Italian admitted the pressure of playing on the biggest stage proved decisive, saying he woke up on Sunday morning with a knot in his stomach.

The match unfolds

Zverev raced through the opening set 6-1 before Cobolli settled into the contest, taking the second 6-4. The German edged the third 6-4, but Cobolli saved the match in a fourth-set tiebreak, winning it 7-5. The effort drained him, and Zverev dominated the fifth set 6-1 as Cobolli's movement deteriorated. The Italian had a break point early in the fifth to stay in touch but could not convert.

Mutual respect at the trophy ceremony

Adriano Panatta, the last Italian man to win Roland Garros in 1976, handed the Musketeers Cup to Zverev. The German reserved warm words for his opponent, telling Cobolli he hoped the Italian would lift the trophy soon. Cobolli, after digesting the loss, praised Zverev and asked his blue-clad supporters for smiles rather than tears.

“I'm happy for you but I'm also sad because I was close and I feel it now that you have achieved your dream, let me win the next time.”

What comes next

Cobolli leaves Paris with his reputation transformed, having never previously gone beyond a Grand Slam quarter-final. He revealed his main goal for the season is qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin, a target set before the claycourt major began. The run moves him to fourth place in the Race to Turin. Zverev, now a Grand Slam champion, becomes the first German man to win at Roland Garros. The victory lifts what Corriere della Sera described as a decade-long weight of regret that had followed him since losing the 2020 US Open final from two sets up.