Alexander Zverev finally achieved one of the biggest milestones of his career on Sunday, capturing his first-ever Grand Slam title after defeating Flavio Cobolli in a thrilling French Open final.
The German star battled through a tense five-set contest to secure a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1 victory in a match that lasted more than four hours at Roland Garros.
With the win, Zverev ended years of heartbreak on the biggest stage and became the first German man since Boris Becker to lift a Grand Slam trophy, ending a wait that stretched back to the 1996 Australian Open.
An emotional Zverev reflected on his journey after the victory, admitting the French Open venue held both painful and memorable moments for him. The same court saw him suffer a serious ankle injury during a semifinal clash against Rafael Nadal in 2022, while he also endured a heartbreaking loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2024 final.
This time, however, the story ended differently.
After years of falling short in major finals, Zverev finally broke through to claim the biggest title of his professional career.
Speaking during the trophy ceremony, he thanked his coaching team and support staff for standing by him through difficult moments and painful defeats.
The victory marked his fourth appearance in a Grand Slam final and his second in the French Open final, making the achievement even more satisfying after several near misses.
For Cobolli, the defeat ended what had been a remarkable run in Paris. The Italian, seeded 10th for the tournament, was aiming to become the first Italian man in five decades to win the French Open.
The 24-year-old had never progressed beyond a Grand Slam quarterfinal before this tournament and entered the final after a breakthrough campaign that captured the attention of tennis fans around the world.
Despite the loss, Cobolli’s impressive performance throughout the competition signals a bright future for the rising Italian star.
For Zverev, though, the day belonged entirely to him as he finally turned years of disappointment into Grand Slam glory.