Zverev breaks Grand Slam barrier with Roland Garros title

Alexander Zverev has finally broken through to claim his maiden Grand Slam title, winning the French Open on Sunday. In his fourth major final appearance, the German defeated Flavio Cobolli in a grueling five-set match that lasted over four hours. Zverev dropped to the clay in tears after Cobolli missed the second championship point, a moment of profound relief and triumph.

The victory places Zverev in an elite group of players who captured their first major in their fourth final, a list that includes Andre Agassi, Goran Ivanisevic, and Dominic Thiem. This year's French Open saw an unusual path to the final for Zverev, with several top seeds exiting early. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner struggled in the heat and lost in the second round, while 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic was also eliminated. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz withdrew before the tournament due to a wrist injury.

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He’s finally a Grand Slam champion.

Zverev had previously reached the French Open final in 2024, where he lost to Alcaraz after holding a two-set lead. This time, however, he seized the opportunity presented by the altered tournament landscape, ultimately triumphing on the red clay of Roland Garros.

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Zverev has now joined an elite group of players that captured their first major in their fourth final: Eight-time major champion Andre Agassi, 2001 Wimbledon winner Goran Ivanisevic and 2020 U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem.