At the 2020 US Open, inside an empty Arthur Ashe Stadium during the pandemic, Alexander Zverev made a lightning-fast start to his first major final. But after leading by two sets and a break, and later serving for the match in the fifth set against Dominic Thiem, the German fell agonizingly short of Grand Slam glory. He was as close as two points from the match in the fifth-set tiebreak.
He was again one set from the title at Roland Garros 2024, leading two sets to one against Carlos Alcaraz, but again lost the final in five sets. And in his third major title match at the 2025 Australian Open, he was outclassed by Jannik Sinner—a straight-sets decision that left less of a mental scar but just as much disappointment.
Entering this year's Roland Garros, the 29-year-old had reached 10 major semifinals, at least one each season since 2020. Add another six quarterfinal showings and it's no surprise Zverev said he was not feeling proud of himself for again advancing to the last four this Paris fortnight. For the man many called the best never to win a major, only a title would do—especially after the early exits of Sinner and Novak Djokovic this fortnight, and the injury absence of Alcaraz.
Zverev lost just two sets on his way to his fourth major singles final at Roland Garros. Facing 10th seed Flavio Cobolli, a man who entered with four Top 10 wins on clay, the German stormed through a 35-minute opening set in Sunday's title match.
Twists and turns fittingly followed, but with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 decision, Zverev walked off Court Philippe-Chatrier a deserved winner—four years after leaving the same court in a wheelchair after a gruesome ankle injury ended an epic semifinal against Rafael Nadal.
"This court is so special to me in so many ways," Zverev said during the trophy ceremony. "I have had the best moments of my life on this court and the worst moment of my life on this court. I was laid in that corner four years ago over there with seven broken ligaments and two fractured bones. I lost a Grand Slam final here two years ago. But now, finally, it is a happy ending."
It took four hours and 19 minutes of drama for Zverev to author that happy ending.
After three-and-a-half hours, following a running forehand winner by Cobolli on set point in the fourth, the final was locked at two sets all. Zverev did well to force a tiebreak in that frame, twice battling back from a break down, but could not make the breakthrough in the tiebreak.
Cobolli celebrated with two arms in the air and a roar after levelling the match, then left the court for a comfort break. Zverev would give him little comfort in the fifth set.
The German, leaning on his big-match experience, reset brilliantly to break in the opening game of the final frame, battling through deuce.
But his bid to consolidate the break began with two ugly double faults. Just when it seemed the weight of past disappointment could be catching up with him, Zverev rediscovered his rhythm on his first serve and escaped a break point to hold. He took further command with a second break for 3-0, only for Cobolli to craft three break chances in the next game.
This time, it was Zverev's defending rather than his serve that bailed him out. On one of the break chances, the German retrieved a drop shot, a lob, and an overhead before drawing an overhead miss from the Italian.
From 4-0, Zverev confidently closed the match—and closed any discussions about his ability to win the big one. Now, the big question is whether this crowning achievement will free up the talented German for more Grand Slam success.
And that heartbreaking 2020 defeat in New York? In the afterglow of his title triumph, that missed opportunity can be reclassified as a painful but necessary step on the road to glory.
