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Alexander Zverev fulfilled his lifelong dream of winning a Grand Slam on Sunday after defeating Flavio Cobolli in a five-set thriller to win the 2026 French Open men's singles title. Zverev was the favourite to lift the trophy after the early exits of pre-tournament favourites Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, with two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz having withdrawn ahead of the tournament due to a wrist injury.
And the 29-year-old, considered the best player in the current generation to not win a Grand Slam until Sunday, lived up to his billing with a 1-6 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 victory at Court Philippe Chatrier, derailing Cobolli's hopes of becoming the first Italian in 50 years to win the clay-court Grand Slam.
For Zverev, not only did Sunday's victory get the monkey off his back, it also marked a "happy ending" for an individual who had experienced both "the best and the worst" moments of his career at the Roland Garros complex.
It was, after all, at this venue where the German had suffered the worst injury of his career four years earlier. Facing clay legend Rafael Nada in the semi-finals of the 2022 edition, Zverev had to be taken off the court in a wheelchair after tearing the ligaments in his right ankle in an injury that had left him screaming in pain.
"This court is so special to me in so many ways. I have had the best moments and the worst moment of my life on this court," Zverev said after becoming the latest player to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires.
"I was laid in that corner four years ago with seven broken ligaments and two fractured bones. I lost a Grand Slam final here two years ago.
"But now, finally, it is a happy ending," he continued.
Also Read | Zverev's French Open triumph sparks new 'Big 3' hopes: 'From now on, it's going to be completely different'
Zverev, also known by his nickname 'Sascha', had previously reached a Grand Slam final on three different occasions – losing to Dominic Thiem in the final of the 2020 US Open and to Alcaraz in Roland Garros four years later.
He would lose to Sinner in the final of the Australian Open last year after 24-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic retired after just one set in their semi-final showdown, the defeat at the hands of the Italian leaving him feeling mentally "empty".
"Last year was one of the most difficult moments in my tennis career. This year is one of the happiest moments. It's a very different feeling right now," Zverev added after his win.
With his triumph on Sunday, Zverev becomes the first player other than the 'Sincaraz' duo to win a Grand Slam since Djokovic's victory at the 2023 US Open.
And the 29-year-old, considered the best player in the current generation to not win a Grand Slam until Sunday, lived up to his billing with a 1-6 6-4 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 1-6 victory at Court Philippe Chatrier, derailing Cobolli's hopes of becoming the first Italian in 50 years to win the clay-court Grand Slam.
Zverev fulfills Grand Slam dream four years after nasty injury
For Zverev, not only did Sunday's victory get the monkey off his back, it also marked a "happy ending" for an individual who had experienced both "the best and the worst" moments of his career at the Roland Garros complex.
It was, after all, at this venue where the German had suffered the worst injury of his career four years earlier. Facing clay legend Rafael Nada in the semi-finals of the 2022 edition, Zverev had to be taken off the court in a wheelchair after tearing the ligaments in his right ankle in an injury that had left him screaming in pain.
"This court is so special to me in so many ways. I have had the best moments and the worst moment of my life on this court," Zverev said after becoming the latest player to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires.
"I was laid in that corner four years ago with seven broken ligaments and two fractured bones. I lost a Grand Slam final here two years ago.
"But now, finally, it is a happy ending," he continued.
Also Read | Zverev's French Open triumph sparks new 'Big 3' hopes: 'From now on, it's going to be completely different'
Zverev, also known by his nickname 'Sascha', had previously reached a Grand Slam final on three different occasions – losing to Dominic Thiem in the final of the 2020 US Open and to Alcaraz in Roland Garros four years later.
He would lose to Sinner in the final of the Australian Open last year after 24-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic retired after just one set in their semi-final showdown, the defeat at the hands of the Italian leaving him feeling mentally "empty".
"Last year was one of the most difficult moments in my tennis career. This year is one of the happiest moments. It's a very different feeling right now," Zverev added after his win.
With his triumph on Sunday, Zverev becomes the first player other than the 'Sincaraz' duo to win a Grand Slam since Djokovic's victory at the 2023 US Open.
