The wait is over: Alexander Zverev prevails in an exciting French Open final and celebrates his first Grand Slam title.
After his historic coup, Alexander Zverev slumped onto the red sand of Court Philippe-Chatrier and let his tears flow: The 29-year-old actually accomplished it – he stormed into Paris after a nerve-wracking five-set thriller in the final to win the first German Grand Slam title since Boris Becker 30 years ago. At the goal of his dreams, the new French Open winner was overwhelmed by his emotions. Zverev could hardly believe his luck after the redemption.
“This place is so special for me,” Zverev said afterwards: “I’m experiencing the best moment of my life here and had my hardest moment here. I was lying in the corner and tore all my ligaments four years ago, lost a final two years ago. Now it’s a happy ending.”
In a thrilling duel lasting 4:16 hours, Zverev prevailed against the Italian Flavio Cobolli 6:1, 4:6, 6:4, 6:7 (5:7), 6:1 and erased the flaw as an unfinished player. Cobolli congratulated: “If someone asks me who deserves this title more, I would say it is you.” In the 41st attempt, the Hamburg native, who had previously been labeled the best professional in history without a major success with 24 titles, celebrated a triumph at one of the four major tournaments for the first time.
“A lifelong dream is coming true,” said Becker at the “Eurosport” microphone: “He and the whole family have worked so hard for this for so long.” Zverev stormed into his box and celebrated exuberantly.
Historic title for Alexander Zverev
Zverev’s liberation at the Eiffel Tower has enormous dimensions, and not just for him personally. He is the first German French Open winner after Henner Henkel in 1937 and the first German Grand Slam champion in men’s singles since Becker’s success at the Australian Open in 1996. The Tokyo Olympic champion joined Becker (6 Grand Slams) and Michael Stich (1) as only the third German to celebrate at a men’s major since professional tennis began in 1968. Among women, Angelique Kerber last won a major trophy at Wimbledon in 2018.
Video: Here Zverev fulfills his big dream
Zverev, who pushed himself to the end of his strength against Cobolli and had large sweat stains on his shirt, kept making new attempts. He lost his first three finals at the highest level. In Paris in 2024 he lost to the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and was unable to close the wound from the US Open 2020, when he was only two points short. Most recently, the brutal server had to give way to the Italian world number one Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open 2025.
In Paris everything fell into place for Zverev, who had already started with clear title ambitions. When top tournament favorite Sinner and then Grand Slam record champion Novak Djokovic were surprisingly eliminated in the second round, the German number one rose to become the biggest contender for triumph in the absence of the injured Alcaraz – and handled the increasing pressure well. “I have to concentrate on what I can influence,” he said again and again.
Nervous game in the final drama
Zverev had improved from round to round – and so Cobolli, against whom he went into the duel with a 3-1 record, should not become a stumbling block. But the match demanded everything from him.
In front of the celebrities like Pharrell Williams, Lenny Kravitz and Eric Cantona, Zverev started strong and dominated with his serve. After just 35 minutes he won set one – which also made grandma Natalia in the box excited. In the second round, however, the Hamburger’s concentration waned and Cobolli, cheered on by the audience, came back. Zverev’s body language was now bad, he repeatedly argued and shook his head.
In the third set it was a battle against one’s own nerves in which the favorite retained the upper hand. “Let’s go!” roared Zverev, who then had to physically fight hard in the fourth set and was briefly treated. But he stood up again, took his heart in both hands and won the Grand Slam title he so longed for.