Article by Roxana Fleşeru – Published on Sunday, 07 June 2026 22:32 / Updated on Sunday, 07 June 2026 22:40
Flavio Cobolli held off Alexander Zverev for four hours and sixteen minutes, falling in the final 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1. At the awards ceremony, he said that his friend, Alexander Zverev, deserves this trophy more than anyone. He pleased everyone, including him, a trend launched by Mirra Andreeva.
The story was repeated at the press conference. “First of all, I want to congratulate Sasha for this title. I think he deserves it and I think that today, at the end of the match, he deserved it more than me. But I also want to thank myself for what I have achieved in these two weeks. Never in my life would I have expected such a result and I am very proud of myself.” said the Italian, who won three times in the ATP circuit, his first title being won in 2025 in Bucharest.
He continued: “Now I just want to smile, enjoy the evening with my friends and the people I love. It's a Grand Slam final. I don't think anyone in this room expected me to get here. So I have to be proud of myself and keep trying and trying and trying again.
He deserved more than me. But I also say it was worth it because Sasha has been here for ten years. He has achieved many extraordinary results and I think he deserves a Grand Slam title for everything he has achieved in his career – Flavio Cobolli
He was asked if he felt tired in the fifth set, especially since he doesn't have much experience of this kind. “After the fourth set, at 6-4 in the tie-break, I felt cramps in my calf. I tried everything I could at the change of courts. I used all the five minutes available, but my calf was done. After the second set, problems also started with my quadriceps. I felt completely exhausted and, frankly, my body abandoned me on the court,” revealed the Italian.
Flavio Cobolli: “Maybe I felt more pressure than him”
His opponent didn't look any fresher physically in the fourth set either. “I had the impression that he was tired too. I think he took a little longer than me and maybe that helped. But, as I said, he's been here for ten years and probably knows better than I what to do in the decisive moments. However, I think in the fifth set he was physically fresher than me. And in the end, that's how things were.”
Flavio also explained how he felt in the first Grand Slam final of his career. “Today maybe I felt more pressure than him. But I'm happy with the way I played in my first Grand Slam final. It's never easy to play in a final like this for the first time, on such a big stage and in a match of such importance. So I say he deserved more than me not just because he won, but because of what he's achieved throughout his career.”
VIDEO. Summary of the final between Alexander Zverev and Flavio Cobolli
He ended the press conference on an upbeat note. “I'm going to keep trying. Like I said before, I'm going to try again and again and again. Once you make it to the first final, why not make it to the second? I think I deserved to be here this week. Maybe I won't be in the next ten or fifteen Grand Slam finals, but like I said at the ceremony, I'm still young. I have to work hard, enjoy this journey and find the balance between work and the pleasure of playing. Maybe that if I manage to combine these things, I will reach a final again”.
