Zverev Wins French Open, Claims First Grand Slam Title on Fourth Attempt

(Central News Agency, Paris, 7th – Combined Foreign Reports) German tennis star Alexander Zverev defeated Italian Flavio Cobolli in a five-set thriller in the final of the French Open on Sunday, finally lifting his first Grand Slam trophy on his fourth attempt.

Second seed Zverev triumphed 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 over Cobolli on Court Philippe Chatrier in a match lasting 4 hours and 16 minutes. He became the first German man to win a Grand Slam since Boris Becker's victory at the Australian Open in 1996.

This was Zverev's fourth Grand Slam final appearance and his second at Roland Garros, following a heartbreaking loss in 2024.

"This court has a lot of special meaning for me... but now there is finally a happy ending," he said after the match. His 2022 season ended prematurely due to an ankle injury suffered in the semi-final against Rafael Nadal on the same court, and he lost a five-set final to Carlos Alcaraz in 2024.

During the trophy ceremony, looking at his team, he said: "We have experienced defeat, and we have been losers at the most important moments. But what matters is that now we are finally Grand Slam champions."

The 29-year-old Zverev seized the opportunity presented by Alcaraz's injury absence and the unexpected early exits of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic to break his long-standing Grand Slam title drought.

Despite committing 54 unforced errors in the match, the world No. 3 managed to shed the label of "the most talented player yet to win a Grand Slam."

The 24-year-old Cobolli appeared visibly nervous at the start, struggling with the pressure of the big stage. He lost the first set in just 39 minutes, committing 16 unforced errors.

Cobolli gradually found his rhythm in the second set, breaking Zverev's serve in the seventh game after three consecutive holds. Zverev, who had not faced a break point until then, double-faulted twice in that game and showed frustration. Cobolli's confidence grew, and he held serve to take the second set, reigniting the match.

In the third set, Cobolli led 30-0 in the 10th game but lost four straight points to hand the set to Zverev.

World No. 14 Cobolli, who will break into the top 10 for the first time next week, broke serve early in the fourth set but was broken back twice, including when serving at 5-4. However, the Italian reset mentally, forced a tiebreak, and won it with a powerful forehand winner on his second set point to push the match to a deciding set.

Zverev broke Cobolli's serve in the first game of the fifth set. After missing a chance to break back, Cobolli was broken again, falling behind 3-0. Zverev saved three break points in the fourth game and maintained his lead, eventually winning the championship when Cobolli's overhead smash went long on the second match point. Zverev collapsed onto the red clay in celebration.