Alexander Zverev overcomes Flavio Cobolli in five-set French Open final to end wait for first Grand Slam title
Updated 07/06/2026 at 19:34 GMT+1
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Alexander Zverev overcame a nerve-filled display to beat Flavio Cobolli in five sets in a dramatic French Open final and end his long wait for a first Grand Slam title.
'Have you ever seen that?!' - Watch 'extreme shots' from Cobolli and Zverev including around net
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The German, who had lost in three previous major finals, played below his best and could not shake off first-time finalist Cobolli, who twice fought back from a set down.
But Zverev, despite also appearing to be suffering with cramp towards the end of the fourth set, eventually got over the line to win a tense match 6-1 4-6 6-4 6-7(5) 6-1 on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
"I want to congratulate Flavio for an unbelievable two weeks, playing this way in a first Grand Slam final is incredible," said Zverev, who suffered a serious ankle injury four years ago in the French Open semi-finals against Rafael Nadal, and two years ago lost in the final to Carlos Alcaraz.
"Not many people do that so congratulations to you. From the bottom of my heart, I hope that you will hold one of these trophies very soon."
Zverev's win ends a run of nine straight Grand Slams won by either Jannik Sinner or Alcaraz.
He is just the third man born in the 1990s to win a Grand Slam title, after Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev, and does so on his 41st appearance at a major, the second-longest wait behind only Goran Ivanisevic (48, Wimbledon 2001), as confirmed by Opta.
The significance of the victory was plain to see as Zverev fell to the floor after the final point and could not hold back tears.
”This court is so special to me in so many ways," he added.
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Watch Cobolli's classy speech after losing out to Zverev in epic French Open final
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"I’ve had the best moments of my life on this court. I’ve had the worst moments of my life on this court. I was laying in that corner over there 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’s a happy ending."
With Alcaraz missing from the French Open due to a wrist injury and Sinner upset in the second round, this looked to be a prime opportunity for Zverev to win a first Slam.
He got a stroke of luck in the first game of the final when a return clipped the net cord, flicked into the air, and then hit the net cord again on the way down and fell over the net.
That prevented Cobolli from winning the game, and Zverev broke soon afterwards.
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Watch dramatic match point as Zverev clinches first Grand Slam title at French Open
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The second seed continued to take advantage of a nervy start from Cobolli to win the first set 6-1.
The Italian settled into the contest in the second set and had his fans cheering as he hit a backhand passing winner to earn his first break-point chance in the sixth game.
Zverev won a lengthy rally to get to deuce but then gifted the break to Cobolli with a double-fault followed by a missed mid-court forehand.
Cobolli seemed galvanised by the break and demonstrated his growing confidence as he serve-and-volleyed to level the match at one-set all.
Zverev had two chances to break early in the third set but could not convert as Cobolli held firm.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/06/07/image-cc2f0ad0-2fc5-42e3-85e3-8be2a5b35062-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Watch controversial moment Zverev protests to umpire after pigeon lands on court mid-point in final
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The Italian wobbled with the set on the line in the 10th game as, from 30-0 up, he made a string of errors to hand Zverev the advantage again.
Zverev returned the favour at the start of the fourth set with Cobolli taking advantage of two double-faults to break.
The magnitude of the occasion seemed to be impacting both players as they struggled for fluency and gave up breaks in the middle of the set.
Zverev then appeared to be cramping as Cobolli served for the set, but landed a forehand winner followed by a backhand winner to break serve and get to 5-5.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/06/07/image-21e3d0c9-b6f9-49f1-8290-1cf8351ccc40-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
Watch huge drama as Cobolli wins tie-break to take final with Zverev to deciding set
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The German held serve in the next game after receiving what looked like an electrolyte mix between games, earning him a time violation from the umpire.
But it was Cobolli who got the better of a gripping tie-breaker, which started with a pigeon landing on the court, to force a fifth set.
After missing a jumping smash at the net with his first set point, Cobolli ripped a forehand winner up the line to take the set.
However, in keeping with the rest of the match, Cobolli’s momentum did not last.
Zverev broke twice in the fifth set to open up a 3-0 lead and then showed incredible defensive skills to fend off a break point in the fourth game.
Cobolli got on the board to make it 4-1 but could not mount a comeback and a missed smash gave Zverev his long-awaited first major title.
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