Zverev beats Mensik, set for final vs Cobolli
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- Alexander Zverev defeated 20‑year‑old Czech Jakub Mensik 7‑5, 6‑2, 3‑6, 6‑3 in the French Open semifinals, securing his fourth major final.
- Flavio Cobolli advanced to the final after 14th‑ranked Matteo Arnaldi withdrew because of a virus, making Cobolli Zverev’s highest‑ranked opponent and the first player to reach a major final without facing a top‑25 opponent since Zverev in 2020.
- Jannik Sinner lost early in the tournament, while two‑time champion Carlos Alcaraz withdrew with a right‑wrist injury, leaving Zverev as the overwhelming favorite at -370 odds.
- Alexander Zverev said he managed the match’s ups and downs, emphasizing his ability to "play another great match on Sunday," after a challenging fourth‑set against Mensik.
- Alexander Zverev faced renewed scrutiny after a stadium spectator shouted names of two ex‑girlfriends accusing him of physical abuse; one case was resolved, and an ATP investigation found insufficient evidence for the other.
Why it matters: Zverev’s victory puts him one win away from his first Grand Slam title, while Cobolli becomes the first player to reach a major final without facing a top‑25 opponent since Zverev’s 2020 US Open run, highlighting the tournament’s unexpected reshuffling after the early exits of Sinner and Alcaraz.
