FLOODGATES OPEN: ALEXANDER ZVEREV CELEBRATES LONG-AWAITED FRENCH OPEN WIN

After so many missed opportunities, Zverev is no longer one of the best players never to win a major title.

- BY ANKIT SHARMA

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. It all came rushing back to Alexander Zverev when he was lying on his back on the French Open’s center court, his hands covering his face, and sobbing on Sunday as he realized that he had — finally — become a Grand Slam champion. It was the same court where he twisted his right ankle and crumpled to the ground, wailing in agony before being pushed off in a wheelchair during a semifinal match against Rafael Nadal in 2022. The same court where he wasted a lead of two sets to one against Carlos Alcaraz in the 2024 championship match.

“All the emotions came out, because this court is very, very special to me. It’s special in a very positive way, but also special in a negative way, because I had some of the toughest moments of my life here," Zverev said.

"I was lying on this court with an injury that I didn’t know if I would ever come back from. I lost a Grand Slam final here, so all of those memories for me, they're not wiped out. They're still with me, but this one will beat all of them.”

After so many missed opportunities, Zverev is no longer one of the best players never to win a major title. 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. It was a unique opportunity for Zverev without Jannik Sinner or Alcaraz across the net, and the third-ranked German took full advantage on the red clay of Roland Garros.