Alexander Zverev Says Winning Roland Garros Gave Him Some Freedom: “I Will Always Be a Grand Slam Champion”

No one can take the Grand Slam title from Alexander Zverev. Even if he reaches more finals and loses them, he will still remain a Grand Slam champion. The French Open title has boosted Zverev’s confidence.

After losing the 2020 US Open final to Dominic Thiem, the 2024 French Open final to Carlos Alcaraz, and the 2025 Australian Open to Jannik Sinner, it seemed Zverev was going to suffer another heartbreak. Because Flavio Cobolli, after easily losing the first set, fought back and pushed the match to the decider, only to win just one game in that set.

Now, no matter what happens, I will always be a Grand Slam champion. Nobody can take that away from me. Maybe that does give me some freedom. Maybe my mind will just be a little bit calmer when I play a final. Meaning that even if I lose it, I’ll still be a Grand Slam champion. This trophy for me is very important. If I would’ve lost this one, the self-belief would’ve gone down a lot. But now that I’ve won it, I feel like I can do it again.

Alexander Zverev said at the press conference

Zverev has now improved his head-to-head record over the Italian ace to 4-1, and it was also his second back-to-back win over him this year after the Madrid Open quarterfinals. Cobolli, who played his career’s first Major final, was bidding to become the third Italian man in the Open Era after Adriano Panatta and Jannik Sinner to win a Grand Slam title.

Alexander Zverev on his feelings right after winning the French Open

While trailing 5-1, 40-15 in the fifth set, when Flavio Cobolli‘s shot landed outside, Alexander Zverev fell on the court, covered his face, and cried in joy. At the press conference later, Zverev described how it felt when he realized what he achieved.

It was a mix of things. At first, I didn’t believe I had won. Then I saw my team celebrating. That’s when it hit me, especially seeing my father raising his arms; that’s when it truly struck me: ‘Okay, I won.’

The French Open is also Zverev’s first title since his win at the 2025 Munich Open. Before arriving in Paris, the World No.3 had featured in just one final, at the Madrid Open, losing that match to Jannik Sinner.

When I was on the ground, all emotions came out because this court is very special to me, both positively and negatively, as I had some of the toughest moments of my life and tennis career here. I was lying on this court with an injury and didn’t know if I would play again. I lost a Grand Slam final here. All those memories stay with me, but this victory overshadows them.

Alexander Zverev added

Zverev, after some much-needed rest, will be gearing up for the grass swing. At Wimbledon, the 29-year-old has never made it past the fourth round, and it’s the only Major where he has yet to reach the quarter-finals.

Cobolli, however, is a one-time quarterfinalist in the grass-court Major, reaching the stage in 2025 and losing the match to Novak Djokovic. The 24-year-old played his third final of the season in the French capital after the Mexican Open (beat Frances Tiafoe) and the Munich Open (lost to Ben Shelton).

Both Zverev and Cobolli have never won a title on grass. Cobolli, who has reached his career-best No.10 ranking, has yet to play a final on the surface, but the German has progressed to three finals, last reaching the stage at the 2025 Stuttgart Open, which he lost to Taylor Fritz.

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