Zverev Eyes First Grand Slam Title Against Cobolli in French Open Final

PARIS — Alexander Zverev will have another opportunity to claim his first Grand Slam title when he faces Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in the French Open final on Sunday.

The world No. 3 has reached three previous Grand Slam finals but has yet to lift a major trophy, including a defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in the 2024 French Open final.

This time, however, the German enters the championship match as the favourite after a strong run through the draw at Roland-Garros.

Zverev Capitalises on Open Draw

Zverev’s path to the final was aided by the withdrawal of defending champion Alcaraz and the early exits of top contenders, including Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.

The second seed booked his place in the final with a commanding semi-final victory over Jakub Mensik.

“The only thing I can control is that I play good tennis,” Zverev said after reaching the final.

“I’ll try to show my level. I’ll try to do the right things. That’s the only thing that matters to me.”

Roland-Garros has been a venue of both promise and disappointment for Zverev. In 2022, a serious ankle injury ended his semi-final against Rafael Nadal, while last year he fell short against Alcaraz in the title match.

Cobolli Targets Maiden Grand Slam Crown

Cobolli, the tournament’s 10th seed, will also be playing in his first Grand Slam final.

The 24-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough season and already holds a notable victory over Zverev after defeating him on clay in Munich earlier this year.

Zverev, however, leads their head-to-head record 3-1 and spoke warmly about his opponent ahead of the final.

“I look forward to playing him in the final. It’s his first final, so I’m happy for him that he reached it,” Zverev said.

“He’s a great player and a great guy. I like him. I like his dad a lot. Two very good people, just generally.”

The German added that the pair developed a closer friendship during the 2024 Laver Cup.

“He’s just a nice person. He has a good heart. He’s extremely funny if you get to know him,” Zverev said.

Italian Arrives Fresher for Final

Cobolli advanced to the final after fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi withdrew from their semi-final due to illness, giving him extra time to recover before Sunday’s showdown.

The Italian acknowledged the extended break could have both advantages and disadvantages.

“Maybe having almost four days off is a lot, so you lose the rhythm, but also during the warm-up I played well,” Cobolli said.

“I’ll be ready for the final, for sure, but I also know that I’ll be fresh. Maybe it’ll help, maybe not. I’ll tell you after the final.”

With both players chasing a maiden Grand Slam title, Sunday’s final promises to produce a new champion at Roland-Garros and a significant milestone in the career of either Zverev or Cobolli.

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A Lagos-based journalist with a passion for disseminating factual information and a deep appreciation for good music, good food, movies, and beautiful cars. He hopes to travel the world someday, documenting its beauty and diverse cultures through his storytelling.