Zverev, one step away (for the fourth time) from his first major: Is it his time or not?

Alexander Zverev stands on the cusp of potentially winning his maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, a feat that has long eluded the imposing German tennis player. With top contenders Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic already eliminated, all eyes are on Zverev, who faces Italian Flavio Cobolli in the final.

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I think it's difficult to compare. In 2020 I didn't see myself as the favorite; in fact, I didn't see anyone as the favorite; at that moment I had a lot of problems with my serve, especially with my second serve; I knew that I could fall apart at any moment, but now that's different, luckily for me… That's in the past and I try not to think too much about it before Sunday.

This marks Zverev's latest opportunity to capture the major title that has proven so elusive throughout his career. He has come close before, notably losing the 2020 US Open final after holding a two-set lead and squandering match points against Dominic Thiem. He also fell short against Carlos Alcaraz in the 2022 Roland Garros final and was defeated by Jannik Sinner in the 2025 Australian Open final.

Reflecting on his past near-misses, Zverev noted the differences between his previous final appearances and the current one. "I think it's difficult to compare," he stated after his semifinal victory. "In 2020 I didn't see myself as the favorite; in fact, I didn't see anyone as the favorite; at that moment I had a lot of problems with my serve, especially with my second serve; I knew that I could fall apart at any moment, but now that's different, luckily for me... That's in the past and I try not to think too much about it before Sunday."

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I would say this is, by far, the biggest and best opportunity he has had. There is no doubt about it.

Despite Cobolli's relative inexperience at this level, Zverev acknowledges the significance of the moment. Tennis analyst John McEnroe commented, "I would say this is, by far, the biggest and best opportunity he has had. There is no doubt about it." McEnroe added that while he wouldn't definitively say Zverev will never win a title if he loses this final, the pressure would mount significantly if he fails to capitalize on this chance.

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I wouldn't say definitively that he won't win any titles if he doesn't win this time, but I think if Sascha is not able to take advantage of this opportunity, people will pressure him even more.

Zverev, 29, has an impressive career record with 24 titles, including seven Masters 1000 events, two ATP Finals victories, and an Olympic gold medal. However, he maintains that the Olympic gold is something he would not trade for a Grand Slam, calling it the most difficult achievement due to its quadrennial occurrence.

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No, I wouldn't change it for a Grand Slam; moreover, I wouldn't change that medal for anything in the world, because it is the most difficult thing to achieve; there is only one opportunity every four years.