Alexander Zverev Outlasts Cobolli in Five-Set Thriller to Claim Maiden Grand Slam Title at Roland Garros
PARIS — The ghost of Court Philippe-Chatrier has finally been exorcised.
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Alexander Zverev collapsed flat onto his back on the red clay of Paris, his face buried in his hands as tears flowed freely. After a grueling, four-hour roller coaster of emotions, the 29-year-old German captured his elusive first Grand Slam singles title, defeating Italy’s breakthrough star Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1 in a dramatic French Open final.
For Zverev, the victory represents the ultimate closure to years of heartbreaking near-misses on tennis’s biggest stages—most notably on this exact court, where he suffered a horrific, career-threatening ankle injury in the 2022 semifinals and lost a two-sets-to-one lead in the 2024 final.
“This court is so special to me in so many ways,” an emotional Zverev said during the trophy presentation. “I have had the best moments of my life on this court and the worst moment of my life on these courts. I was laying in the corner four years ago over there with seven broken ligaments and two fractured bones... But now, finally, it’s a happy ending.”
A Match of Brutal Momentum Swings
The German second seed entered the final as the heavy favorite and played like it early on, racing through the first set 6-1 in clinical fashion. However, the 24-year-old Cobolli—playing in his first-ever major final—refused to play the role of bystander. Backed by a raucous contingent of Italian fans, Cobolli weaponized his heavy topspin forehand to take the second set and push Zverev to the absolute physical brink.
After Zverev steadied himself to claim the third set, the fourth became a masterclass in tension. Zverev clawed back from being a break down twice, even finding himself just two points from the championship in the tiebreak. Yet, it was Cobolli who seized the moment, blasting a brilliant forehand down the line to take the tiebreak 7-5 and force a deciding fifth set.
| Match Statistics | Alexander Zverev | Flavio Cobolli |
| First Serve % | 76% | 53% |
| Break Points Won | 9 / 21 | 3 / 8 |
| Total Points Won | 162 | 136 |
| Final Score | 6, 4, 6, 6 (5), 6 | 1, 6, 4, 7 (7), 1 |
The Decisive Fifth
While the momentum seemed to favor the young Italian heading into the final frame, experience took over. Zverev, playing in his third career five-set Grand Slam final, stayed disciplined despite visible physical exhaustion.
Cobolli’s high-risk strategy finally caught up with him. Desperately chasing points, the world No. 14 began rushing his shots and faltering on overheads. Zverev quickly capitalized, breaking early to race to a 3-0 lead. When Cobolli dumped a final overhead into the net on Zverev’s second championship point, the marathon was over.
With this victory, Zverev becomes the first German man to win the Roland Garros singles title since Henner Henkel in 1937—ending an 89-year drought for his nation in Paris.
By securing his 25th career ATP title, Zverev removes himself from the conversation of “best player never to win a major” and joins an elite historical club of players who won their first Grand Slam on their fourth final attempt, alongside Andre Agassi, Goran Ivanisevic, and Dominic Thiem.
