4 Years After Leaving Court in Wheelchair, Zverev Takes Title

Alexander Zverev is no longer one of the best players never to win a major title: He's finally a Grand Slam champion. In his fourth major final, Zverev beat Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1 for the French Open title on Sunday in Paris. Zverev had a unique opportunity without Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz across the net, and the third-ranked German took full advantage on the red clay of Roland Garros. When Cobolli missed an overhead on the second championship point after more than four hours of the five-set encounter, the AP reports, Zverev dropped on his back to the clay and covered his face with his hands as he began sobbing.

When Zverev was handed the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy, he lifted it with both hands and let out a liberating roar. "This court is so special to me in so many ways. I've had the best moments of my life on this court; I had the worst moment of my life on these courts," Zverev said, referring to when he was injured and pushed off in a wheelchair during a semifinal against Rafael Nadal in 2022. "I was laying in that corner over there four years ago with seven broken ligaments and two fractured bones. I lost a Grand Slam final here two years ago but now finally it's a happy end." It was Zverev's second French Open final, having wasted a lead of two sets to one against Alcaraz in the 2024 championship match.

The match was played in perfect conditions, and Zverev's game was almost flawless at the start. Zverev broke Cobolli's serve in a long opening game when Cobolli shanked a forehand into the stands. The break came after Zverev had a bit of luck when a backhand return hit the net but dribbled over on game point for Cobolli. After Zverev held for a 6-5 lead in the fourth, he had his upper right leg treated by a trainer. Then Zverev wasted a 3-1 lead in the tiebreaker, which Cobolli concluded with a forehand winner up the line that produced a roar from the crowd. But Cobolli appeared to run out of energy in the fifth, running down a drop shot only for Zverev to then pass him up the line for a 3-0 lead and a double break.