Alexander Zverev won his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, defeating Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 in a nerve-wracking four-hour final. The German, who had reached three Grand Slam finals without a title, finally broke through after years of being labelled the best player never to win a major.
How did Zverev's path to the title open up?
The draw shifted dramatically in Zverev's favour when top seed Jannik Sinner suffered an early upset at the hands of Juan Manuel Cerundolo, and Carlos Alcaraz withdrew due to a wrist injury. Novak Djokovic also exited early, leaving the field unexpectedly open. Zverev advanced through the tournament with aggressive play, defeating Quentin Halys, Jesper de Jong, Rafa Jodar, and Jakub Mensik before reaching the final.
What made the final so difficult?
Zverev's victory came after a gruelling contest marked by tension and fear from both players. The German showed moments of passivity in high-pressure situations, echoing concerns that had haunted him since his 2020 US Open final loss to Dominic Thiem, when he squandered a two-set lead. However, he ultimately prevailed through experience and grinding tennis as Cobolli began to tire. The relief was evident as Zverev dropped to the clay and tears flowed.
Who won the women's title?
Mirra Andreeva claimed the women's championship at age 18, becoming the youngest French Open champion since 1992. The teenager defeated Maja Chwalinska 6-2, 6-3, settling into her game after a nervy opening and reeling off 10 consecutive games from 2-3 in the first set to effectively end the contest. Andreeva finished with a backhand winner on match point.
The upsets at Roland Garros underscored the unpredictability of Grand Slam tennis, with both champions capitalising on an unusual draw that saw several top contenders eliminated early.
Sources
- Flashscore.co.za: Zverev and Andreeva win first Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros after a mad fortnight in Paris. Published 2026-06-08.
- Roland-Garros: Roland-Garros wrap - Sat June 6. Published 2026-06-06.
- Tennis.com: How Jannik Sinner fell short of Career Grand Slam at 2026 Roland Garros. Published 2026-06-05.
- ESPN.com: Tennis on ESPN - Scores, Schedule and News. Published 2026-06-07.
Reported from public sources.