Zverev ends major drought with French Open victory
The 29-year-old becomes the first German man to win a major singles title since Boris Becker in 1996, breaking the dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Alexander Zverev has secured his maiden Grand Slam singles title at the 2026 French Open, defeating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in a tense five-set final on Sunday evening. The 29-year-old German second seed won 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1 in a match that lasted four hours and 16 minutes, ending a prolonged period where he was considered one of the leading players without a major championship.
The victory marks a significant shift in the men’s tennis landscape, as Zverev becomes the first man other than Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz to win a Grand Slam singles title since 2023. The previous nine majors had been swept by the two Italian stars, but Zverev capitalised on Sinner’s early second-round exit and Alcaraz’s absence due to injury to claim the trophy at Roland Garros.
Zverev’s triumph also ends a 30-year drought for German men in the sport. He is the first German man to win a Grand Slam singles title since Boris Becker’s victory at the 1996 Australian Open. The win comes after Zverev had previously lost three Grand Slam finals, leading to widespread speculation about his ability to secure the most prestigious trophy in tennis.
The final on Court Philippe Chatrier was marked by significant physical and psychological strain. Zverev, who has been a top-10 player for most of the past nine years, struggled with nerves and technical issues, including a series of costly double faults in the fourth set. He required electrolytes to combat cramp and twice fell a break down during the dramatic fourth set before Cobolli missed a set point in the tie-break.
Cobolli, the 10th seed and aged 24, reached his first Grand Slam final after never previously advancing beyond the third round in Paris. A former footballer in Roma’s academy, Cobolli showed resilience but ultimately ran out of steam in the deciding set. Zverev closed out the match on his second match point, falling backwards onto the clay in emotion after Cobolli sent a smash long.
The victory concludes a journey that began with Zverev emerging as a precocious teenager, catching the eye of stars such as Roger Federer. Despite his status as world number three and consistent success on the ATP Tour, technical issues with his second serve and a tendency to play passively against top opponents had previously hindered his Grand Slam ambitions.
Zverev’s win breaks the narrative of him being a player who could not get over the line at a major. While his brother Mischa Zverev reached the Australian Open quarter-finals in 2017, Alexander’s path to this title was longer and more fraught with pressure. The result confirms his status as one of the world’s leading stars, having finally delivered on the promise shown since his early years on tour.
