Alexander Zverev finally captured his first Grand Slam title, defeating stubborn Italian Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 in the French Open final. The German, seeded second, becomes the first man from his country to win a major since Boris Becker at the 1996 Australian Open.
After falling in three previous major finals-including at Roland Garros two years ago-Zverev seized his opportunity in a draw left wide open by the early exits of Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, and the absence of Carlos Alcaraz due to injury.
The match was played under bright sunshine on Court Philippe Chatrier. Zverev dominated the opening set but Cobolli, a former AS Roma youth player, rallied to take the second, whipping the crowd into a football-like frenzy.
Two-time Grand Slam finalist Zverev regained control in the third set before Cobolli forced a fifth with a blistering forehand in the tiebreak. The German used his experience to break early in the decider and never looked back, collapsing to the clay in tears at match point.
"Some of the best moments of my life have happened on this court, and some of the worst too. I sat here with seven broken bones four years ago, and I lost a final here," said Zverev, referencing a career-threatening ankle injury suffered at the 2022 French Open.
Cobolli was gracious in defeat. "If someone asked me who deserved this title more, I would always say you," he told Zverev. Italy's wait for a men's champion in Paris continues, now 50 years since Adriano Panatta's win in 1976.