The path to a Grand Slam title had never been clearer for Alexander Zverev, and the German took advantage.
Defeating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1 on Sunday in Paris, Zverev finally captured his first Grand Slam title and topped the French Open after whiffing on his previous three major final appearances.
It was a victory that was years in the making for Zverev, who was a 24-time tour-level titlist entering the match.
Alexander Zverev celebrates on the clay after winning the French Open for his first career grand slam title on June 7 2026. Getty Images
Alexander Zverev celebrates winning the French Open title over Flavio Cobolli on June 7, 2026. AFP via Getty Images
While the 24-year-old Cobolli pushed Zverev and played well enough to trade off sets, the decider belonged to the World No. 3. Zverev couldn’t have gotten off to a stronger start, going up two breaks and fending off three break points in the fourth game for a commanding 4-0 lead.
Despite committing nine double faults, Zverev landed 76 percent of his first serves in the final.
“This trophy for me is very important because if I would have lost this one, this self-belief would have gone down a lot,” Zverev said. “But now that I’ve won it, I feel like I can do it again.”
Germany’s Alexander Zverev poses with the Coupe des Mousquetaires (Musketeers’ Trophy) and his family after winning the French Open on June 7, 2026. AFP via Getty ImagesThe men’s singles bracket at Roland Garros was pretty wide open for several reasons.
Not only did World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz withdraw before it even started due to an inflamed tendon sheath in his right wrist, but World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic were both eliminated by the second and third rounds, respectively.
Zverev did not face a single ATP top-25 player before reaching the championship match on Sunday.
Flavio Cobolli reacts during his French Open final loss to Alexander Zverev on June 7, 2026. Getty ImagesWhile Zverev defeated No. 26 seed Jakub Menšík of Czechia in the semifinals, the average ranking of his opponents through the earlier rounds was 57. He lost just four sets on the way to his maiden Grand Slam title.
During a changeover earlier in the final match, Zverev – a Type 1 diabetic – had to give himself an insulin shot. The intense Paris heat has been a major factor in this year’s tournament. Players have had to endure a severe European heatwave and the strain it’s taken on their bodies.
Sinner, whose kryptonite has notoriously been the heat, blew a two-set lead to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerúndolo in the second round under the conditions.
Zverev’s career has been stained by multiple domestic abuse allegations, most recently in June 2024 for an out-of-court settlement with his ex-girlfriend Brenda Patea. Another former girlfriend publicly accused him of physical and emotional abuse dating back to 2019.
He denied those allegations. The ATP conducted a 15-month investigation into the matter and concluded there was “insufficient evidence” to take disciplinary action.
