Alexander Zverev captures French Open for first Grand Slam crown

PARIS (AP) — Alexander Zverev has shed the tag that followed him through years near the top of tennis: he is now a Grand Slam winner.

Playing in his fourth final at one of the sport’s majors, the third-ranked German defeated Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1 to take the French Open title on Sunday.

The Roland Garros final gave Zverev an opening he did not waste, with neither Jannik Sinner nor Carlos Alcaraz standing on the opposite side of the net.

After more than four hours, Cobolli sent an overhead astray on Zverev’s second championship point. Zverev fell flat on the clay, hid his face in his hands and cried. Moments later, his shirt and arms marked by the surface, he covered his face again before raising both arms to celebrate.

Zverev joins Andre Agassi, an eight-time major champion, 2001 Wimbledon winner Goran Ivanisevic and 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem among players who won their first Grand Slam title in their fourth major final.