Alexander Zverev finally claimed his first Major title at Roland Garros, defeating a courageous Flavio Cobolli in a five-set final that stretched to over four hours — only for the young Roman’s body to fail him at the last.
After a bruising 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 victory, Zverev at last has his Grand Slam. The 29-year-old Hamburg-born German had twice before lost finals at Roland Garros and the Australian Open. He had suffered a career-threatening ankle injury on this same court against Nadal in 2022. On Sunday, the ghosts were finally laid to rest.
Cobolli, ranked 13th in the world and just 24, gave everything across 4 hours and 16 minutes of extraordinary tennis. He recovered from a disastrous opening set to claw back twice, pushing Zverev to a fourth-set tiebreak before his body gave out in the fifth, cramps ending his resistance by the second game. The crowd, solidly behind the Italian throughout, could not carry him over the line.
It is the first Grand Slam title for a German player since Boris Becker won the Australian Open in 1996.
Post-match
The trophy was presented by Adriano Panatta — himself a Roland Garros champion, 50 years ago to the year.
“If someone had asked me who deserved the title more, I would have said ‘Sascha,'” Cobolli told the Philippe-Chatrier crowd. “I’m happy for you, but also sad because I came close. Now that you’ve achieved your dream, let me win next time.”
Zverev was equally generous: “There aren’t many people who can play a match like this. I hope you’ll soon have a trophy like this in your arms.”
At the post-match press conference, Cobolli refused to be downcast. “I’m happy with the way I played in my first Grand Slam final. I never expected such a result. I’m very proud of myself.” He confirmed that his next major target is the ATP Finals in Turin. With a top-ten ranking now assured, and Paris established as his favourite Slam, he will be back.
Back in Rome, the city’s mayor Roberto Gualtieri paid tribute on social media, calling Cobolli “a lion” who had carried “the name of the capital and the country to a historic final.”
Roland Garros was great for Italian tennis with three men in the quarter-finals, Errani and Vavassori retaining their mixed-doubles title, and Vavassori and Bolelli reaching the men’s doubles semi-finals.
