PARIS, June 6 – Alexander Zverev’s quest for his first Grand Slam championship brings him to another crucial moment at the French Open, where the German player will battle Italian surprise contender Flavio Cobolli this Sunday.
The 29-year-old has been consistently thwarted by tennis legends Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic, along with rising stars Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, but now faces his fourth opportunity to claim a major title and achieve his long-awaited breakthrough.
Following defending champion Alcaraz’s pullout and unexpected early exits by Sinner and Djokovic that altered the tournament bracket, the second-seeded Zverev has taken advantage with a steady progression through the competition to reach his second championship match in Paris within three years.
“The only thing I can control is that I play good tennis,” Zverev stated to media following his dominant victory over Czech 26th seed Jakub Mensik in the semifinals.
“I mean, I’ll try to show my level. I’ll try to do the right things. That’s the only thing that matters to me.”
The French Open has represented both opportunity and heartbreak for Zverev, from the devastating ankle injury that ended his 2022 semifinal match against Nadal to falling to Alcaraz in last year’s championship.
Zverev enters this French Open final carrying another recent disappointment after losing to Sinner in the 2025 Australian Open final, though he now possesses an excellent opportunity to finally achieve victory with a favorable matchup against his friend Cobolli.
“I look forward to playing him in the final. Of course, it’s his first final, so I’m happy for him that he reached it,” said Zverev, who leads their previous meetings 3-1.
“He’s a great player and a great guy. I like him. I like his dad a lot. Two very good people, just generally.
“We got closer at the Laver Cup in 2024 in Berlin … he’s just a nice person. He has a good heart. He’s extremely funny if you get to know him.”
The 24-year-old Cobolli secured his championship opportunity after Italian compatriot Matteo Arnaldi withdrew from their semifinal match due to viral illness, leaving the 10th seed as the more rested competitor entering Sunday’s showdown.
“Sometimes it helps. Sometimes it doesn’t,” Cobolli commented.
“Maybe having almost four days off is a lot, so you lose the rhythm, but I think also during the warm-up I played well.
“I think I’ll be ready for the final, for sure, but I also know that I’ll be fresh. Maybe it’ll help, maybe not. I’ll tell you after the final.”
Cobolli presents a legitimate challenge on clay courts, having defeated Zverev on German soil in Munich earlier this season, demonstrating his capability to upset the German’s game plan on tennis’s slowest playing surface.
Zverev quickly responded to that loss by winning their next encounter in Madrid, maintaining his edge in their rivalry and solidifying his position as the heavy favorite in Paris.
However, carrying painful memories including his stunning collapse after leading by two sets against Dominic Thiem in the 2020 U.S. Open final, Zverev understands the pressure of championship moments.
Sunday’s final between 2-Alexander Zverev (Germany) and 10-Flavio Cobolli (Italy) is scheduled for Court Philippe Chatrier beginning no earlier than 1300 GMT.
