Alexander Zverev Finally Ends Grand Slam Title Drought by Defeating Flavio Cobolli in Roland Garros Final

Alexander Zverev, the greatest player ever to never win a Grand Slam title? No. Not anymore. Because on Sunday (June 7), Zverev beat Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 in the Roland Garros final to win his career’s first Grand Slam title.

Cobolli served to start the game but couldn’t hold it, and later in the second game, he couldn’t break Zverev. Sascha, who has all the experience of playing in big finals, used that experience to quickly take a 4-1 lead. He held his serve and took the next game. Cobolli, who was feeling a lot of pressure at the time, was losing many points to unforced errors. The 29-year-old ended the first set in his favor 6-1.

Zverev continued his winning ways in the first game of the second set, but Cobolli finally held his serve and won his second game of the match. But Zverev raced to 40-0 in the third game and won it.

Cobolli began adding variety to his game and gestured for the Philippe-Chatrier crowd to cheer loudly after tying the set at 2-2. But the Italian once again started making unforced errors on the back of which Zverev clinched the next game. Even though Cobolli raced to 40-15, he had no answer to Zverev’s backhand. Cobolli tied the score to 3-3 after Zverev’s shot hit the net cord.

Cobolli finally had the chance to break Zverev for the first time, but after a stunning rally of 23 shots, the latter tied the points to 40-40. But Zverev served a double fault for the first time in the match, following which he also served an ace for the first time. After a drop shot off a backhand, Zverev’s shot went wide, and next came his second double fault. Following an unforced error from Zverev, Cobolli broke him and finally took a lead in the match for the first time(4-3).

The game lasted for more than nine minutes. Cobolli, who looked a bit lost in the previous set, clinched the next game and took a 5-3 lead. He had to break Zverev again to take the set, but after more than nine minutes, Cobolli lost the game, then won the next one and took the set. Zverev now had all the pressure of the world as Cobolli completely turned the tables.

Alexander Zverev tastes Grand Slam glory after a five-set battle

But momentum shifted throughout the third set. At 4-4, thanks to Zverev’s powerful service games, he found himself leading 40-0 and soon took the set. Zverev won the third set 6-4.

Cobolli increased his aggression in the fourth set. He won a few points by coming toward the net and took a 2-0 lead, but he couldn’t break Zverev in the next game. They played a few more tough games, with Cobolli taking a 4-3 lead, and thanks to his net game, he was on the verge of taking the set.

Cobolli served for the set at 5-4 but couldn’t hold his serve. At 5-5, Zverev increased his intensity and quickly took a 40-0 lead, and even though he lost points due to unforced errors, Zverev clinched the game off an ace. The 29-year-old then received medical treatment.

Cobolli served to stay in the match, and he successfully held the serve and pushed the set to the tie-breaker. At 1-1, Zverev once again won a long rally and repeated the result after another long rally. But Cobolli held his nerves and took a lead for the first time (4-3). And at this crucial moment, Zverev served a double fault.

With a drop shot, Cobolli saw himself leading 6-4 and served for the set. He had a perfect opportunity to win, but an excited Cobolli hit an unforced error; next, he smashed a winner and took the set, pushing the match to the decider.

In the fifth set, Zverev increased his intensity and soon had a 3-0 lead. Cobolli tried his all to break Zverev but failed, and although he won the next game, he couldn’t break the World No.1. At 5-1, Zverev just needed to break Cobolli, and yes, he did! Zverev has now finally become a Grand Slam champion.

Also, for the first time since Rafael Nadal‘s victory at the 2022 French Open, a player other than Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, or Jannik Sinner won a Grand Slam title. Cobolli made it to his career’s first Major final after receiving the walkover from compatriot Matteo Arnaldi, who, due to severe viral illness, was forced to withdraw about 20 minutes before the match. Also, before this event, he had played just one Grand Slam quarterfinal (in last year’s Wimbledon).

Zverev ended Jakub Mensik‘s run in four sets in the semifinals. Before this final, he featured in three Grand Slam title clashes. Dominic Thiem overcame a two-set deficit to defeat Zverev in the final of the 2020 US Open.

Zverev then faced Alcaraz in the 2024 French Open title clash and lost in five sets. And last year, Sinner dismantled him in the Australian Open final in straight sets.

Also read: Alexander Zverev Reveals the Key Previous Mistakes he Hopes to Not Repeat in Roland Garros Final