Flavio Cobolli follows Andreev’s example, thanks himself after the French Open final

Flavio Cobolli suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the 2026 French Open final on Sunday, June 7, as he lost to Germany’s Alexander Zverev in a five-set thriller at Roland Garros. Despite falling short of the title, the Italian’s emotional post-match reflections stood out after his first career-defining Grand Slam final.

Cobolli’s performance capped off a breakthrough fortnight in Paris, where he surpassed all previous Grand Slam results and pushed one of the sport’s best players to the limit on the biggest stage.

“I want to say thank you for what I did these 2 weeks. I never expected such a result in my life. I’m so proud of myself. I want to smile great and enjoy the night with the people I love,” Cobolli told reporters after the match.

Cobolli’s words after the match added a layer of emotion to the occasion, reflecting both pride and disappointment. Before handing over the trophy, he also shared a personal exchange in which he acknowledged the closeness of the match and jokingly wished for another chance at glory.

He showed admiration for his opponent even after a close match: “I’m happy for you but I’m also sad because I was close and now I feel you’ve (achieved) your dream, let me win next time.”

The Musketeers Cup was eventually handed to Zverev by former French champion Adriano Panatta, the last Italian to win Roland Garros in 1976, marking another poignant moment in Paris.

A BREAKTHROUGH RUN FOR COBOLLI

Cobolli left it all on Court Philippe-Chatrier as he chased his first Grand Slam title, but admitted the pressure of the occasion on tennis’ biggest stage ultimately played a decisive role in the outcome. The 24-year-old had never advanced past the quarter-finals of a major before, making his run to the final one of the tournament’s standout stories.

His trip also highlighted the growing depth of Italian tennis on the ATP Tour, with Cobolli emerging as part of a new generation that continues the nation’s recent strong presence in men’s tennis.

The final against Zverev was of high qualitya momentum-changing battle, ending 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-1 in favor of the German. Cobolli’s resilience was on full display as he battled back from match setbacks to force a deciding set before Zverev pulled away late on.

Despite the loss, Cobolli’s reputation was significantly improved by his performance throughout the tournament. He showed improved consistency, mental strength and ability to compete against elite opposition under pressure from the earlier rounds to the final.

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Published on:

08 Jun 2026 10:17 IST