French Open: Zverev beats Cobolli in five-set thriller to win maiden Grand Slam title

Alexander Zverev captured his long-awaited maiden Grand Slam title after defeating Flavio Cobolli in a dramatic five-set French Open final in Paris, finally ending years of near-misses at the sport’s biggest stage.

The 29-year-old German prevailed 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5-7), 6-1 in a tense encounter that lasted over four hours, overcoming both a spirited challenge from Cobolli and his own moments of anxiety on court.

The victory marks Zverev’s first major triumph after previously losing three Grand Slam finals.

Zverev started strongly, dominating the opening set with powerful baseline hitting and aggressive serving.

However, Cobolli, playing in his first Grand Slam final, responded bravely to level the match and later force a decider after winning a tense fourth-set tiebreak.

The German twice fell behind in that set and struggled physically, battling cramps and unforced errors under pressure.

In the decisive fifth set, Zverev rediscovered his rhythm, racing to a double-break lead as Cobolli’s level dropped.

He closed out the match on his second championship point before collapsing onto the clay in emotional relief.

The victory makes Zverev the first player outside Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz to win a Grand Slam title since 2023, breaking a recent era of dominance shared by the sport’s leading duo.

Zverev has long been regarded as one of tennis’s most talented players.

Born in Hamburg, Germany, on April 20, 1997, he comes from a tennis family—his parents were both professional players, and his brother Mischa Zverev also competed on the ATP Tour.

He turned professional in 2013 and quickly rose through the rankings with his powerful serve and aggressive baseline game.

Before his French Open breakthrough, Zverev had already established himself as one of the ATP Tour’s most consistent performers.

He has won multiple ATP Masters 1000 titles, including Madrid, Rome, and Cincinnati, and has been a regular fixture inside the world’s top 10 for several years. 

He also won the ATP Finals in 2018 and 2021, confirming his status among the elite of men’s tennis.

Despite his success on the tour, Grand Slam glory had eluded him, with previous final defeats at the US Open and other majors raising questions about his ability to deliver on the biggest stage.

His Paris triumph finally ends that narrative.