Tennis

Roland Garros goes to Zverev; Cobolli fails to break the curse

The Italian tennis player lost to the world number three from Germany 3 sets to 2 (1-6, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6, 1-6)

by Marco Bellinazzo

7 June 2026

Alexander Zverev dopo la vittoria al quinto seto contro Flavio Cobolli REUTERS/Benoit Tessier REUTERS

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

In the final of the 2026 French Open, on the clay of the Court Philippe-Chatrier, Flavio Cobolli failed to break the curse of the Parisian Major for Italian tennis and lost to Germany’s Alexander Zverev, world number 3, 3 sets to 2 (1-6, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6, 1-6). The last victory by Adriano Panatta, who was present in the stands, dates back to 1976.

The match is intense and thrilling, as befits the final of a Grand Slam. It takes three and a half hours for the first four sets to be decided, with Cobolli and Zverev splitting the sets. The final set, however, is decided in around forty minutes, allowing Zverev, at almost 30 years of age and after a long career at the pinnacle of world tennis, to claim his first Grand Slam title (in his fourth final).

From the outset, Zverev started strongly and immediately set the pace with his serve and deep shots. He quickly secured multiple breaks, capitalising on a very tense and error-prone Cobolli. The Italian player made many unforced errors, particularly on his backhand, and struggled to reach the baseline. Zverev made the most of his greater experience at this level, controlling the match with ease and closing out the set 6-1 in just over half an hour, giving the impression of a one-sided affair.

Flavio Cobolli durante la finale. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard)

Fortunately, Zverev’s technical and mental superiority began to wane in the second set, when Cobolli managed to turn the tide, improving both his serve and his play in extended rallies. The turning point came midway through the set with the first break of the match in favour of the Italian, in a game marked by two double faults from the German, who began to show signs of nervousness and lost his spark.

Cobolli grew in confidence and aggression, managed his lead, consolidated the break and held his nerve in the final games, closing out the set 6-4 to level the match.

The third set was largely evenly balanced, with both players holding their serve solidly. The score remained level until 4-4. Cobolli saved several break points, even from 15-40 down, showing great character. At 4-5, however, the Italian suddenly falters and makes a few consecutive errors. Zverev capitalises on the opportunity and breaks serve to take the set 6-4.

The roar from the world number three seemed to herald a dominant run in the next set. Instead, Zverev clearly let his guard down too much, committing two more double faults in quick succession, handing Cobolli the break. A breath of fresh air for the Italian, who consolidates to 2-0 and then moves to 3-2, but with a double fault and two unforced errors in the sixth game, he in turn loses his serve to the German.

In the seventh game, the tables turned. With a passing shot down the line from the baseline, Cobolli caught Zverev off guard as he came to the net and secured a break, which he converted on the very next point when the German made another error at the net.

The Italian then capitalised on a series of backhand errors from Zverev to take a 5-3 lead, serving to stay in the match at 5-4. But Zverev, who also appears to be struggling physically, lands three winners down the line to level the score at 5-5. The match heads into a tie-break at 6-6.

Zverev has won 27 and lost 3 matches at Roland Garros. Cobolli gets off to a good start, clinching the first point with a passing shot, but then makes an unforced error and is undone by a ball that hits the net and goes out, leaving him trailing 2–1. The score is tied at 3-3, whilst the Parisian stadium is almost entirely behind Flavio, who bravely takes the lead at 4-3 with a forehand down the line. Zverev commits another double fault. Cobolli earns two set points with a drop shot. On the next point it looked all over, but at the net Cobolli spectacularly missed a smash. But he redeemed himself immediately afterwards with a forehand from the baseline that left his opponent rooted to the spot, and he clinched the fourth set after three and a half hours of play.

Cobolli leaves the court to change, but upon returning he starts under too much pressure and loses his serve twice in a row. Zverev takes a 4–0 lead and suddenly seems to be back to full fitness. Unlike Cobolli, who, on the other hand, begins to run out of steam, even arguing with his corner. He calls for a break with the physio.

The set flew by faster than the others, with the German increasingly in control, conceding just a single game to a combative but exhausted Cobolli. The match thus ends 6-1, just like the first set, with yet another smash from Cobolli sailing wide, though he still secures an important result: his first Grand Slam final and the number 10 spot in the ATP rankings, becoming the seventh Italian in history to achieve this.