Alexandar Zverev moves one step closer to a long-awaited maiden Grand Slam title after defeating the Czech youngster Mensik in four sets to reach the 2026 French Open final. The German second seed won 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in a composed semifinal performance on Court Philippe-Chatrier, securing his second Roland Garros final appearance and fourth Grand Slam final overall.
Zverev entered the match as the favourite and largely controlled the match with his powerful serve and aggressive baseline play. While Mensik briefly threatened a comeback by taking the third set, the world No. 3 quickly regained control in the fourth set to seal victory after just over three hours on court. The win keeps alive the hope of the German getting his first major title after previously finishing as runner-up at the 2020 US Open, the 2024 French Open and the 2025 Australian Open.
The second semifinal never took place . Italian Matteo Arnaldi was forced to withdraw just a few minutes before the match due to a viral illness . Arnaldi revealed that he had suffered from severe nausea, vomiting and dizziness, leaving him unable to compete despite getting medical treatment.
As a result, Cobolli advanced to his first-ever Grand Slam via a walkover. The 24-year-old Italian expressed sympathy for his fellow countryman while acknowledging the significance of the moment. His remarkable run in Paris has also guaranteed him a place inside the ATP top 10 rankings for the first time in his career.
One win now separates Zverev from Grand Slam success, but Cobolli’s sensational Paris campaign suggests that the Italian will not give up on his dream with a fight.
Sources: The Guardian | Sportstar
