Alexander Zverev finally achieved the biggest milestone of his career by winning his first Grand Slam title at the French Open 2026. The German star defeated Italy's Flavio Cobolli in a hard-fought five-set final at Roland Garros, prevailing 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 to lift the trophy. With Carlos Alcaraz sidelined due to injury and Jannik Sinner suffering an early exit, Zverev entered the tournament as one of the leading contenders for the title.
Ending Years of Near Misses
The victory ended years of disappointment and near misses for the World No. 3. Zverev had previously come close to winning a Major but failed to cross the final hurdle. His triumph in Paris was widely celebrated across the tennis world. Among those praising him was Toni Nadal, the former coach and uncle of Rafael Nadal. Toni believes this breakthrough victory could help Zverev unlock another level in his game and challenge the sport's biggest stars more consistently.
Toni Nadal's Perspective
Toni Nadal spoke highly of Alexander Zverev after the German finally secured his long-awaited Grand Slam title. According to Nadal, Zverev had spent many years chasing a Major crown, which often brought extra pressure onto his shoulders. He said the victory should help Zverev play with greater freedom and confidence in the future. Nadal told Puntodebreak that Zverev's passion for tennis has always been clear, but the burden of trying to win a Slam sometimes affected his performances. He added that this success could allow the German to become more aggressive on court and close the gap on rivals such as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
The Spaniard also revealed that he had previously encouraged Zverev to adopt a more positive mindset. Nadal felt that technical coaching was not the main issue. Instead, he believed Zverev needed to trust himself more and continue working alongside his father, who has coached him throughout most of his career. Nadal also stated that, in his view, Zverev possesses greater overall ability than three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka.
Zverev's Reaction
After lifting the trophy, Zverev reflected on the significance of becoming a Grand Slam champion. He said winning the title means no one can ever take that achievement away from him. The 29-year-old admitted that losing another major final could have seriously damaged his confidence. Instead, winning in Paris has strengthened his belief that he can capture more Grand Slam titles in the future. Zverev added that the victory may help him feel calmer in future finals because he has already achieved his dream. Tennis legends Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz were also among those who congratulated him on his historic achievement.
