Alexander Zverev finally shed the “best player without a major” label on Sunday, defeating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in a thrilling five-set battle to win the 2026 French Open men’s singles title at Roland Garros.
In the women’s final on Saturday, 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva cruised to her first Grand Slam crown with a straight-sets victory over Polish qualifier Maja Chwalińska.
The men’s final on Court Philippe-Chatrier delivered the drama expected of a Grand Slam decider.
Second-seeded Zverev, the Olympic champion and a two-time runner-up at Roland Garros, started strongly, taking the opening set 6-1 against the 10th-seeded Cobolli, who was appearing in his first major final.
Cobolli, the rising Italian star, fought back to claim the second set 6-4 and pushed the German to the brink in a tightly contested third and fourth.
Zverev edged the third 6-4, but Cobolli forced a tiebreak in the fourth, winning it 7-5 to level the match at two sets apiece.
In the deciding fifth set, experience and resilience prevailed. Zverev broke early and powered through to a 6-1 victory, sealing the match 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5-7), 6-1 after more than four hours.
The 29-year-old dropped to his knees on the clay in celebration, embracing his team as the crowd roared.
“This one means everything,” Zverev said in his post-match interview.
“I’ve been in this position before and fallen short. Today, I stayed with it.” The win marks the first French Open men’s title for a German player since 1937 and Zverev’s breakthrough after three previous major final defeats.
Cobolli, who rose into the top 10 with his run, showed poise beyond his years. “It’s only the start for me,” the 23-year-old said, earning praise for his composure in a high-pressure debut final.
Andreeva’s Dominant Breakthrough
A day earlier, Mirra Andreeva delivered a masterclass to become the youngest French Open women’s champion since Iga Świątek in 2020.
The Russian teenager dismantled Chwalińska 6-3, 6-2 in just over an hour on Court Philippe-Chatrier, winning nine games in a row at one stage to seize control.
Andreeva, who turned 19 during the tournament, navigated windy conditions and the occasion with remarkable maturity.
Chwalińska, who came through qualifying, put up early resistance but couldn’t match Andreeva’s consistency and power from the baseline.
“It’s a dream come true,” Andreeva said while lifting the Suzanne Lenglen Cup. “To win a Grand Slam at 19 here in Paris — I can’t describe the feeling.”
The victory cements her status as one of the sport’s brightest young talents.
Historic Context and Aftermath
Zverev’s triumph adds to a strong clay-court season and comes despite personal challenges, including managing Type 1 diabetes.
The result also highlights the depth in men’s tennis, with Cobolli representing the next wave of challengers alongside established stars.
For Andreeva, the title caps a meteoric rise and signals a potential shift in the women’s game as a new generation steps forward.
Both champions will now turn their attention to Wimbledon, where the grass-court season begins later this month.
With Zverev no longer chasing his first major and Andreeva riding high on momentum, tennis fans have plenty to look forward to in the remainder of 2026.
