Alexander Zverev moved within one victory of capturing his first Grand Slam title after defeating Czech youngster Jakub Mensik in four sets to reach the French Open final at Roland-Garros on Friday. The German second seed produced a composed performance to secure a 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory over the 20-year-old, who was appearing in his first Grand Slam semifinal. The win sends Zverev into the fourth major final of his career and keeps alive his quest for a long-awaited breakthrough on tennis' biggest stage.
Mensik's Breakthrough Run Ends
Mensik entered the semifinal in impressive form after eliminating several established opponents during a breakthrough tournament run. However, the young Czech struggled with consistency on serve and was unable to match Zverev's experience in the key moments of the contest.
Match Summary
After taking control of the opening two sets, Zverev briefly lost momentum as Mensik fought back to claim the third. The Czech raised his level with aggressive shot-making and energetic support from the crowd, but Zverev quickly regained control in the fourth set to seal his place in the championship match.
Zverev's Path to the Final
The 27-year-old has been viewed as one of the favourites for the title following the early exit of top-ranked player Jannik Sinner and the withdrawal of defending champion Carlos Alcaraz due to injury. In Sunday's final, Zverev will face Italy's Flavio Cobolli, who advanced without playing his semifinal after compatriot Matteo Arnaldi withdrew because of illness. Arnaldi revealed he had suffered severe symptoms, including dizziness and vomiting, forcing him to pull out before the match. Cobolli expressed sympathy for his fellow Italian and acknowledged the disappointment surrounding Arnaldi's withdrawal. Despite the unusual route to the final, Cobolli will now have the opportunity to compete for his first Grand Slam title.
Final Opportunity for Zverev
The final presents another major opportunity for Zverev, who has previously fallen short in Grand Slam championship matches. He was runner-up at the US Open in 2020, the French Open in 2024 and the Australian Open in 2025. Having come close on several occasions, Zverev will be aiming to finally end his wait for a major title when he takes on Cobolli in the Roland-Garros final.
