New Delhi: World No. 3 Alexander Zverev finally ended his lifelong dream of winning a Grand Slam title on Sunday, beating Flavio Cobolli in a five-set
thriller at Roland Garros. The German won 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 after a hard-fought four-hour, 16-minute triumph. It was a match that swung back and forth but ended with Zverev holding his nerve when it mattered most, sealing the biggest win of his career.
It was more than just another final for Zverev emotionally, who has endured heartbreak at the same venue. He suffered a serious ankle injury here back in 2022 during a semifinal against Rafael Nadal and in 2024 he let a two-set lead slip in the championship match against Carlos Alcaraz. However, this time he stayed composed through a tense decider to secure his long-awaited breakthrough title on clay.
It all came rushing back to Alexander Zverev when he lay on his back on Court Philippe-Chatrier, hands over his face, in tears after realising he had finally become a Grand Slam champion. The moment carried the weight of past pain and missed chances, all returning at once. ‘This trophy for me is very important…’ he said in the presentation ceremony, reflecting on his journey and resilience.
From high above, rise for the win 👏#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/ix3PaMhU15
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 7, 2026
Five-set final full of momentum shifts
Zverev started strongly, taking the opening set with ease as Cobolli struggled to settle. The Italian fought back to level the match, especially the way he won the dramatic fourth set tie break with a scorching forehand winner, refusing the opportunity to lift his first slam and pushed it into a deciding fifth set.
Both players had treatment during the contest but the German’s power and control returned in the decider, where he broke away to secure victory in style at Roland Garros in Paris.
Cobolli, produced a strong run to reach his first Grand Slam final, showing real fight throughout the tournament. However, the 24-year-old struggled to match Zverev’s consistency in the fifth set. Despite the defeat, the Italian earned praise for his performance and determination, pushing one of the world’s best players on one of tennis’s biggest stages at the Roland Garros final.
Records broken and what lies ahead for Zverev
With the triumph, the 29-year-old became the first German man to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires since Henner Henkel in 1937 and is only the third German in the Open Era (since 1968) to win a major title since Boris Becker.
Capturing the moment 📸#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/s16pKDiryu
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 7, 2026
Zverev is now the third man born in the 1990s to lift a major trophy, after Dominic Thiem, who won the 2020 US Open, and Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion. The past nine majors have been shared between Alcaraz and Sinner since the 2024 Australian Open.
The German reflected on the importance of the win, saying it could change how he sees future finals after years of setbacks. ‘But now that I’ve won it, I feel like I can do again,’ he said. His victory places him among a select group of players who won their first major after reaching multiple finals, marking a key moment as he finally tastes the long-awaited success on the biggest stage.
