Zverev outlasts Cobolli in five-set French Open final to claim first Grand Slam title

A long-awaited breakthrough

Alexander Zverev, the world number three, finally captured his first Grand Slam title on Sunday at Roland Garros, overcoming Italy's Flavio Cobolli in a tense five-set final that lasted four hours and 16 minutes. The 29-year-old German had lost all three of his previous major finals (US Open 2020, Roland Garros 2024, Australian Open 2025) and had seen his path cleared when top seed Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic exited the tournament on consecutive days, with Carlos Alcaraz absent through injury. Zverev becomes the first German man to win the French Open singles title since the sport opened to professionals in 1968.

I've had the best times and the worst times. Four years ago I was lying over there in a corner with broken ligaments and I lost here in the final two years ago. Finally, it's a happy end.

A chaotic final on Court Philippe-Chatrier

Zverev stormed through the opening set 6-1 in 35 minutes, breaking Cobolli's first service game and conceding only one game. The match turned at 3-3 in the second set, when Zverev began making sloppy errors and handed his serve to the Italian with a double fault and a forehand error. Cobolli seized the momentum to take the set 6-4 and level the match after 93 minutes. Zverev edged the third set 6-4, capitalising on wayward shots from his opponent, but then lost his own serve at the start of the fourth. Cobolli served for the set at 5-4 but faltered, and the set went to a tiebreak. The Italian recovered his composure to win it seven points to five, forcing a decider after three and a half hours of play.

The fifth-set resolution

Zverev took control in the deciding set, breaking Cobolli's serve early and racing to a 6-1 finish. Cobolli, the world number 14 playing in his first Grand Slam final at age 24, felt the moment more intensely as the match wore on. Zverev drew on his first serve and his greater experience to close out the victory. Cobolli, gracious in defeat, addressed his opponent during the trophy ceremony.

If someone had asked me who deserves this title the most, I would have answered that it was you. I am happy for you but also sad because I came close, I feel it. Let me win next time.

The path through a depleted draw

Zverev was the clear favourite from the moment Sinner suffered a physical collapse in the second round and Djokovic fell to Joao Fonseca in the third. Cobolli was the only top-25 player Zverev faced en route to the title, having previously beaten Benjamin Bonzi, Tomas Machac, Quentin Halys, Jesper De Jong, and Jakub Mensik. The trophy was presented by Adriano Panatta, the last Italian man to win Roland Garros, in 1976.

Off-court context

Zverev's victory comes against a backdrop of controversy. He has been accused of domestic violence by two former partners, Olya Sharypova and Brenda Patea, allegations he has repeatedly denied. The case involving Patea, the mother of his child, led to proceedings in Berlin that began during the 2024 French Open and were eventually settled out of court. During the trophy ceremony of his Australian Open final against Sinner last year, a spectator interrupted proceedings with a reference to the allegations.