The Germans’ long wait for a major has come to an end in France.

By Alex

Alexander Zverev has finally won his first Grand Slam final following a five-set win over Flavio Cobolli.

The title of “Greatest to never win a Grand Slam” has followed the German around like a ghost for many years.

After so many failed attempts and heartbreaking setbacks, including three Grand Slam finals losses, now is his time in the spotlight, and his unwanted title can finally be dropped.

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From serving for the championship in the 2020 US Open final, to an awful fall that caused seven broken ligaments and two fractured bones during the semi-final at Roland Garros back in 2022, there is no doubt that Zverev and his team have really been through the lows of being a tennis player.

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But now he is experiencing the highs.

With the absence of Jannik Sinner due to his early exit from the competition, and Carlos Alcaraz’s decision not to compete in Paris due to injury, all eyes turned to the German with many believing this to be his best chance yet, and perhaps ever, of winning his first Grand Slam title.

Though despite tennis’s best two male players not being an issue for Zverev this time, the 29-year-old still had plenty to navigate.

As Sinner crashed out only in the second round at Roland Garros, the German had to deal with the pressure of being the favourite for well over a week, and that weight could be seen lifted off the German’s body as he won that final point.

Even with his two main rivals not an issue this time, Zverev also had to face some of tennis’s brightest youngsters on the way to the final, including one of the breakout stars of the tournament, Rafael Jodar, and Jakub Mensik in the semi-final.

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But his biggest test came on the biggest stage of all, as the German locked horns with another talented Italian on tour, this time Cobolli.

The 24-year-old was having a two-weeks to remember, and with the withdrawal of fellow countryman Matteo Arnaldi in the semi-final, many thought he could push Zverev all the way.

They weren’t wrong.

Despite a very sluggish first set from the tenth seed, he certainly made the German work for his first major, as a fair few devastating forehands caused the match to go to five sets.

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The fitness and experience of Zverev were seemingly the difference in the end, as a 6-1 final set was enough to get him over that all important line.

The final set scores were 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1.

After the last year’s epic between Alcaraz and Sinner the tennis world wondered if the French Open could produce anything like that for many years to come, although it may not be seen as quite as much of a classic as last year’s, the French crowd were still treated to another rollercoaster of a clash, making it another memorable day in the City of Love.

The unpredictability of the final mirrored the whole tournament as a whole, after two weeks of shock upsets, new names, and general chaos that hasn’t been seen at Roland Garros for a long time.

From heat waves to hail stones, no one knew what was coming, creating intrigue and excitement that we haven’t witnessed at a Grand Slam for many years.

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As for Zverev, with a huge weight now lifted off his shoulders, and jumping up to second in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, he will turn his attention to the grass court season, as Wimbledon awaits.

But is success a one-off for the German, or will the removal of pressure allow the German to go on and challenge Sinner and Alcaraz for the biggest honours the sport has to offer?

Featured image of Alexander Zverev during a match with Jasper De Jong in the French Open 2026: Like tears in rain via Wikimedia Commons