Zverev advances to French Open final after Mensik defeat
Alexander Zverev has reached his second French Open final, defeating Jakub Mensik in four sets to position himself as the overwhelming favourite for the title following the early exits of top contenders.
Alexander Zverev has secured his place in the French Open men’s singles final, defeating Jakub Mensik in four sets to advance to the championship match at Roland Garros. The German second seed maintained his composure to win 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, and 6-3 against the 26th seed Mensik, who reached his first Grand Slam semi-final. This result marks Zverev’s fourth Grand Slam semi-final appearance and his second at Roland Garros.
The path to the final has been significantly bolstered by the early exits of top-ranked contenders. World number one Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic both suffered shock departures in the first week of the competition, positioning Zverev as the clear front-runner to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires. Sinner was eliminated due to heat-related issues, while Djokovic fell to Joao Fonseca in the third round. Zverev has dealt well with the pressure of being the tournament favourite since these developments, entering the final with only two sets lost in six matches.
The match itself was a contest of endurance and tactical adjustment. The closely-fought first set was decided in the 11th game, with Zverev saving three break points to deny Mensik a 5-3 lead. The 20-year-old Czech player appeared to tire as the match progressed, calling for a medical timeout in the third set for a neck issue. Although Mensik briefly regained momentum with effective drop shots to take a 4-2 lead in the third set, he could not sustain the pressure. Consecutive backhand unforced errors in the fourth set gifted Zverev a break, allowing him to power into the final and win on his first match point.
Zverev’s journey to this stage has been marked by previous near misses at major tournaments. He has now lost three Grand Slam finals, including a defeat to Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros two years ago and a loss to Dominic Thiem at the 2020 US Open. The 29-year-old is also aiming to end a 14-month title drought, which dates back to a clay-court event in Munich in April last year. Despite these historical setbacks, Zverev described his mental state as one of "pure emptiness," suggesting a strategic approach to managing pressure.
On Sunday, Zverev will face either Flavio Cobolli or Matteo Arnaldi in the final. The German is considered the strong favourite against either opponent, with Cobolli seeded 10th and Arnaldi ranked 104th. The victory on Court Philippe Chatrier sets up a decisive test of Zverev’s mental strength and physical freshness, as he seeks to convert his status as the tournament favourite into his first Grand Slam title.
