The Italian “miracle” has to wait at least one more year at Roland Garros. A German triumphs after almost 90 years
Alexander Zverev (world number 3) finally became a Grand Slam champion. The German achieved his lifelong dream on Sunday, at Roland Garros, where he defeated Flavio Cobolli in the final, in five sets, score 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1.
Zverev is the first German to win in Paris since Henner Henkel in 1937.
For the Italian Flavio Cobolli (last year's champion from Bucharest) it was the first Grand Slam final in his career.
- Sunday's final is the second consecutive final lost by an Italian at Roland Garros, after last year's when Jannik Sinner lost to Carlos Alcaraz.
- The Italians have not won at Roland Garros for 50 years, since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
Alexander Zverev prevailed on Sunday, in the Roland Garros 2026 final, against the Italian Flavio Cobolli, whom he defeated with a score of 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1.
The 29-year-old German wins his first Grand Slam title after reaching the last act of a major tournament four times. The German has one more final to play at Roland Garros in 2024. He was also a finalist at the US Open in 2020 and the Australian Open in 2025.
In addition to the Grand Slam finals, among the most important achievements of the German tennis player is the gold medal obtained at the Olympic Games in Tokyo (2021) and winning the Tournament of Champions twice, in 2018 and 2021.
The wait is finally over ‼️
Sascha Zverev is YOUR Roland-Garros Champion 🏆 pic.twitter.com/6KkpZo2TH8
— TNT Sports US (@TNTSportsUS) June 7, 2026
A dream come true for Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev finally became a Grand Slam champion at Roland Garros 2026, after losing three previous Grand Slam finals. For the Italian Flavio Cobolli (24 years old, 14th ATP place) it was the first Grand Slam final in his career.
In an exciting matchup on the Philippe-Chatrier center court, Zverev was the more consistent player in the first three sets, before showing remarkable resilience in a final set dominated by him, reports News.ro.
After Cobolli managed to come back and win a dramatic tie-break in the fourth set with a blistering forehand winner, Zverev refused to let the opportunity slip away. After falling within three points of victory in the fourth set, the 29-year-old rallied to win the match against the Italian in the fifth set, sealing a hard-earned triumph after four hours and 20 minutes.
Overcome with emotion, Zverev collapsed on the clay after converting match point, before giving Cobolli a warm hug at the net.
👏 Beaucoup d'émotions et de tears pour Alexander Zverev qui décroche enfin son premier Grand Slam 🏆 #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/SM2OOf77jR
— Prime Video Sport France (@PVSportFR) June 7, 2026
For Zverev, the triumph at Roland Garros 2026 represents another pinnacle achievement in a career that has long placed him among tennis' elite. Since his debut on the ATP circuit in 2016, the German has won two Nitto ATP Finals titles, seven ATP Masters 1000 titles and an Olympic singles gold medal. However, until Sunday, he did not have a Grand Slam title.
Alexander Zverev is the first German to lift the 'Coupe des Mousquetaires' since Henner Henkel in 1937. Zverev is also only the third German in the Open Era (since 1968) to win a Grand Slam title and the first since Boris Becker at the Australian Open in 1996. Michael Stich triumphed at Wimbledon in 1991.
