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Alexander Zverev wins French Open for first Grand Slam title
via Punch Nigeria4 min read
World number two Alexander Zverev secured his first Grand Slam title by defeating Italy's Flavio Cobolli in a five-set French Open final. Zverev, the second seed, won 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7 5/7, 6-1 in four hours and 16 minutes, becoming the first German man to win a major tournament since Boris Becker in 1996. This victory marks a significant moment for Zverev, who had previously experienced heartbreaking near misses in Grand Slams, including a season-ending ankle injury at the 2022 French Open semi-final. Cobolli, the 10th seed, was playing in his first Grand Slam final and expressed mixed emotions, congratulating Zverev while also acknowledging his own disappointment at being so close to the title. Both players showed nerves during the match, particularly Cobolli in the first set. Zverev's experience ultimately prevailed in the deciding set, allowing him to shed the label of being one of the best players never to have won a major title. He had previously lost in three Grand Slam finals, six quarter-finals, and seven semi-finals, notably blowing a two-set lead in the 2020 US Open final against Dominic Thiem.
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