Zverev Moves One Win Away From Maiden Grand Slam Title, Sets Up French Open Final Against Cobolli

Alexander Zverev moved within touching distance of a long-awaited first Grand Slam title after defeating Czech youngster Jakub Mensik in four sets to reach the French Open final on Friday.

The second-seeded German overcame the 20-year-old Mensik 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in the semifinals at Roland Garros, booking his place in the fourth major final of his career and his second in Paris.

Zverev will now take on Italy's Flavio Cobolli , who advanced to the title clash after compatriot Matteo Arnaldi withdrew before their semifinal because of illness.

Arnaldi, ranked 104th in the world, had spent nearly 20 hours on court during his remarkable run to the last four, more than any player at a Grand Slam since 1991. The Italian said he had been suffering from a virus and was vomiting overnight, leaving him unable to compete.

The developments have strengthened Zverev's position as the overwhelming favourite for the title, particularly after the early exit of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and the withdrawal of two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz due to a wrist injury before the tournament.

Mensik, playing in his first Grand Slam semifinal , entered the match with growing confidence after impressive victories over Andrey Rublev and Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca. However, he struggled with consistency against the experienced German and committed five double faults at crucial moments.

Both players found conditions challenging under windy skies on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Mensik frequently employed serve-and-volley tactics, while Zverev relied on his solid baseline game to gain control of rallies.

The opening set remained closely contested until Mensik double-faulted twice late on, allowing Zverev to secure the decisive break. The German carried that momentum into the second set, breaking early and taking a commanding two-set lead.

Mensik briefly revived his hopes in the third set despite requiring treatment for a neck issue and taking a medical timeout. Encouraged by the crowd, he produced several impressive winners and broke Zverev's serve to claim the set.

However, Zverev quickly regained control in the fourth set, using his superior movement and court coverage to neutralise the Czech's attacking game and close out the match.

The victory puts Zverev in another opportunity to end his Grand Slam drought after previous final defeats at the 2020 US Open , the 2024 French Open , and the 2025 Australian Open .

The article also noted the abuse allegations that resurfaced during the 2025 Australian Open final. One case involving a former partner was resolved through an agreement with German prosecutors, while an ATP investigation into separate allegations concluded there was insufficient evidence.

With the tournament's biggest stars no longer in contention, Zverev now stands just one victory away from capturing the first major title of his career.