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Alexander Zverev wins Roland Garros 2026. The German tennis player beats Flavio Cobolli in the final of the Parisian Major and wins the first Slam of his career. The 29-year-old from Hamburg made up for defeats in the finals of the 2020 US Open (against Thiem), the 2024 Roland Garros (at the hands of Alcaraz) and the 2025 Australian Open (with Sinner) and prevailed over the Roman in five sets with a score of 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1 in four hours and 16 minutes of play. Zverev becomes the fifth German to win a Slam, after Boris Becker, Gottfried von Cramm, Henner Henkel and Michael Stich. At the age of 29 years, 1 month and 18 days, Zverev is also the fifth oldest tennis player ever to win his first Major tournament: the record holder is Andres Gimeno, who won Roland Garros at 34 years, 9 months and 19 days. With the success in Paris, Zverev rises to 7305 points in the ATP rankings, consolidating third position in the world rankings and closing in on Carlos Alcaraz’s second place (9960). Flavio Cobolli, for his part, consoles himself with entering the Top 10 for the first time in his career. A shame though because the Tuscan fights like a lion for four sets and just when he seems to have the inertia on his side he collapses. But applause anyway.
Cobolli: “Sascha deserves the title. I’m still young”
«It’s not easy for me to talk now. I’ll start with you, if someone had asked me who deserved the title more I would have said “Sascha”, I’m happy for you but also sad because I came close. Now that you have fulfilled your dream, let me win next time.” Thus Flavio Cobolli after the defeat in the final at Roland Garros against Alexander Zverev. “They were the best weeks of my life, it remains my favorite Slam. I always watched it on TV, even if not when Adriano was there – he said, then addressing Panatta directly, with a bit of irony – it was an honor to have you here even if it put me a little under pressure.”
«I thank the blue wall who tried to help me during the match, I can’t look at you otherwise I’ll cry – he added -. My mom is still alive, so that’s okay. I started playing when I was very young and I didn’t expect anything like this, but now that I’m here I want to make sure I can achieve something very special. I’m still young, I want to enjoy every single moment on the pitch. Now make some noise for Sascha.”
Zverev: “It’s a happy ending for me”
«I congratulate Flavio, there aren’t many people who can play a match like this, I hope you will soon have a cup like this in your arms. Even as a team you deserve it for the future, and I’m sure you will make it. I want to thank the tournament director Amelie Mauresmo and the French federation, but above all the public.” These are the first words of Alexander Zverev in tears after winning his first Slam title at Roland Garros.
«This court is very special for me, I had the best moments of my life here but also the worst – he said, referring to the very serious injury in 2022 against Nadal and the final lost in 2024 -. Now the happy ending has arrived. I had the feeling that the crowd pushed me in these two weeks, without you I wouldn’t have won the tournament.” The German then turned to his team: «I thank everyone: a lot of things have happened, injuries, broken hearts… we have often lost, but in the end we are Slam champions and that’s what counts»