Zverev eyes maiden Grand Slam title at French Open final

German tennis star Alexander Zverev stands on the cusp of his first Grand Slam title, needing just one more victory to claim the French Open crown. He enters Sunday's final against Italy's Flavio Cobolli as the favorite, aiming to overcome past near-misses at major tournaments.

Zverev's journey to this point has been marked by close calls. In the 2020 US Open final, as a 23-year-old, he led Dominic Thiem by two sets but ultimately faltered, losing a match he was just two points away from winning. This defeat came during a period where the dominance of the 'Big Three' was being challenged.

His career faced a significant setback in the 2022 French Open semi-finals. While playing exceptionally well against Rafael Nadal, Zverev suffered a severe ankle injury, screaming in pain as he collapsed. He returned to the court on crutches to bid farewell to the crowd, facing a lengthy recovery from multiple ligament tears.

Despite the past disappointments and injuries, Zverev has shown resilience. He reached the French Open final again in 2024, though he lost to Carlos Alcaraz after leading by two sets to one. Most recently, in the 2025 Australian Open final, he was outclassed by Jannik Sinner in straight sets. Zverev acknowledged Sinner's superior play, stating, "He was too good for me."