Alexander Zverev Wins ‘This’ Prize Money After Beating Flavio Cobolli in French Open Final

Alexander Zverev ended his Grand Slam title drought on Sunday (June 7). Sascha clinched a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 victory over Flavio Cobolli in the French Open final, becoming the first German man since Boris Becker in 1996 to win a Grand Slam title.

Zverev also became the first German man since Henner Henkel in 1937 to win the clay-court Major. The 29-year-old is also just the third German in the Open Era to emerge triumphant in a Grand Slam final after Becker and Michael Stich. 

Before arriving in the French capital, Zverev had won two ATP Finals, seven Masters 1000s as well as an Olympic singles gold medal. And the only Big Title that remained was a Grand Slam trophy. With his latest win, he has now become a winner of 25 tour-level titles.

Had Cobolli won, he would have become only the third Italian man in the Open Era to clinch a Grand Slam title after Adriano Panatta (1976 French Open) and Jannik Sinner (2024 and 2025 Australian Open, 2024 US Open, and 2025 Wimbledon). Cobolli has already won a title this season (the Mexican Open against Frances Tiafoe). Zverev won his first title of the season in this tournament.

As the Roland Garros champion, Zverev will be taking home $3.2 million as prize money, while Cobolli has pocketed $1.6 million for finishing as the runner-up. This year’s total prize pool was $71.1 million.

Alexander Zverev beats Flavio Cobolli for the second time this season

Before this match, Alexander Zverev and Flavio Cobolli had met four times, with the former winning three of those matches. But they were 1-1 this year before arriving in the French capital.

Cobolli beat him in the semifinal of the Munich Open, stopping him from defending his title. Later, he lost the final to Ben Shelton. But Zverev took his revenge by knocking him out of the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open, and later, he reached the final only to lose to Jannik Sinner for the ninth consecutive time.

I want to congratulate Flavio. Unbelievable two weeks. Reaching your first grand slam final. Playing this way in your first grand slam final is incredible; not many people do that. Congratulations to you. Really, from the bottom of my heart, I hope that you will hold one of these trophies very soon.

Alexander Zverev said during the winner’s speech

For the first time since the 2022 French Open, a player other than Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, or Novak Djokovic emerged triumphant in a Grand Slam final. At the 2022 French Open, Rafael Nadal lifted his historic 14th title in the tournament.

I also want to congratulate the team. For me, it’s one of the nicest teams on tour. Papa, you’re one of the best people on tour. We always have great conversations. I always enjoy being around you guys. Really, you deserve it in the future. I’m really certain you’ll get one. So congratulations as well.

Alexander Zverev added

Zverev had lost three Major finals before entering this tournament, losing the 2020 US Open to Dominic Thiem, the 2024 French Open to Alcaraz, and the 2025 Australian Open to Sinner. Cobolli, on the other hand, featured in his career’s first Major final after receiving the walkover from compatriot Matteo Arnaldi, who was forced to give the walkover just about 20 minutes before the semifinal.

The 24-year-old, in fact, had made just one quarterfinal in a Major before this tournament in last year’s Wimbledon. Zverev, in the grass-court Major, has never made it past the fourth round and, in fact, has yet to lift a title on this surface.

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