French Open: Alexander Zverev hopes to shake off Grand Slam final blues against Flavio Cobolli Tennis News

Alexander Zverev is once again in the final of a Grand Slam but this time the heavy favorite against world number 3 Italian Flavio Cobolli.

The 29-year-old, who has lost all three of his appearances in major finals – including the 2024 French Open – will be looking to go one better on the Roland-Garros clay this time around.

As a player blocked by the golden generation of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, and more recently by young guns Carlos Alcaraz and Janic Ciner, the German has been the beneficiary of a few strokes of luck for once.

Changing the shape of the Roland-Garros draw after the withdrawal of Holder Alcaraz and the early exits of Ciner and Djokovic, second-seeded Zverev capitalized with a quiet surge through the field to appear in his second Paris final in three years.

“The only thing I can control is that I play good tennis,” Zverev told reporters after losing to 26th seed Jakub Mencic in the semifinals.

“I mean, 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 long held promise for Zverev but his hopes have been dashed there too, with a brutal ankle injury costing Alcaraz his 2022 semi-final against Nadal.

Zverev: Kobley ‘just a nice guy’

Cobley – the 10th seed, who is playing in his first Grand Slam final – is a real clay court threat, though, having beaten Zverev on his home turf in Munich this season, underlining his ability to disrupt the German’s rhythm at the sport’s slowest pace.

“I’m looking forward to playing him in the final. It’s his first final so I’m happy for him that he’s reached it,” added Zverev, who holds a 3-1 advantage in their head-to-head record.

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

“We got close to the Laver Cup in 2024 in Berlin… He’s just a wonderful man. He’s got a good heart. He’s very funny if you get to know him.”

The 24-year-old Cobolli booked his place in the qualifying squad after teammate Italian Matteo Arnaldi withdrew from their semi-final due to a viral illness and the 10th seed will be the new player in Sunday’s match.

“Sometimes it helps. Sometimes it doesn’t,” Cobley said.

“Maybe almost four days off is too much so you lose the rhythm, but I played well in the warm-up as well.

“I will definitely be ready for the final, but I also know I will be fresh. Maybe it will help, maybe not. I will tell you after the final.”

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