A new Grand Slam champion will be crowned on Sunday when Alexander Zverev takes on Flavio Cobolli in the French Open final.
After a tournament filled with shocking upsets, including the exits of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, second seed Zverev has his best opportunity at finally clinching a major crown that has eluded him his entire career.
Which loss was more surprising, Aryna Sabalenka or Jannik Sinner?
Sinner lost in R2, Sabalenka in the QF…
The German, widely considered the greatest men’s player never to win a Grand Slam, has come up short in three major finals before.
He holds a 3-1 winning record against Cobolli, who advanced to the title bout via a walkover after Matteo Arnaldi withdrew from their semifinal matchup.
Ahead of the final, former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski had incredibly high praise for Zverev, who has yet to buckle under the pressure in Paris.
Greg Rusedski previews the 2026 French Open final
Speaking in an episode of ‘Off Court with Greg‘, Rusedski said: “Well, I’m nothing but impressed with Zverev because remember how he was getting crunched in the finals by Jannik Sinner all year.
“You know, he grew and then also, let’s not forget the last Slam in Australia. He was the closest to beating Carlos Alcaraz, 5-3, serving for the match. You know, had he served it out we wouldn’t have talked about Carlos being on fire at the beginning, year 16-0 to start the season, holding all four majors.
“So he was this close to getting into another major final, but this is the big one now. He’s done his time. He lost his first one in New York. He’s been to French Open finals, one in Australia.
“I feel like he’s gonna get the job done, and I’m so pleased for him because he’s stuck with it. He’s found a way. Tactically, the question for him is with Cobolli in the finals now, who got a walkover from Arnaldi because of the virus, all the pressure’s on Zverev, because this is his time.
Prove me wrong – Alexander Zverev WILL win Roland Garros now
“If he’s gonna ever win a Slam, it’s gonna be here today. How does he wake up on Sunday? How does he feel? Does he manage to relax into it?
“Because it’s quite interesting if you look at the head-to-head, it’s one apiece this year. Cobolli won in Munich, then Zverev won in Madrid.
‘But I feel like this Zverev has a lot of time three out of five sets and he’s gonna get it done whether it’s four or five sets, but if he doesn’t get it done this time, oh my god. I wouldn’t want to be there, but I feel like he’s matured and this is his time.”
Greg Rusedski praises Alexander Zverev’s mentality in Paris
Asked about Zverev’s mentality at this year’s French Open, Rusedski said: “You know, he’s so consistent.
“The problem is Alcaraz and Sinner. That was the problem for everybody and for him to be in the finals and also let’s not forget last year, he said, okay, I need to do something different.
“So he went down to the Rafael Nadal Academy to spend a little time there with Rafa and with Uncle Tony and just to get a few ideas in his brain of something a little bit different because he said look I’m struggling with the sport.
“You know, I’ve been so close. I’ve been the nearly man and every time he was supposed to be the number one. Everybody’s talking about Federer, Djokovic and Nadal hanging up the rackets and Alcaraz and Sinner taking over, but he’s stuck with it.
“He keeps knocking on the door. So for me, it’s just having that persistence, that perseverance and just keeping going. I’d love to see him win on Sunday, hold that French Open trophy, see all the emotion, everything he’s been through to get there and get the job done.”
Zverev’s last appearance in a Grand Slam final was at the 2025 Australian Open, where he fell to Sinner.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
