Germany’s Alexander Zverev plays a backhand return to Czech Republic’s Jakub Mensik during their men’s semi final singles match on day 13 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on June 5, 2026.
| Photo Credit: AFP
Alexander Zverev moved to within touching distance of a long-coveted maiden Grand Slam title, as the German fought past 26th seed Jakub Mensik 7-5 6-2 3-6 6-3 on Friday (June 5, 2026) to reach the French Open final again.
The 29-year-old, who has lost three major finals, including one at Roland Garros two years ago, has looked sharp in Paris and faces Italian 10th seed Flavio Cobolli.
Cobolli reached the final after his semi-final opponent, fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi, withdrew from the match on Friday due to a virus.
A tight opening set on a sun-kissed Court Philippe Chatrier tilted Zverev’s way when he struck a backhand crosscourt winner in the 11th game to bring up a break point, and he nudged ahead with a delicate shot that Mensik sent into the net.
The world number three sent down a powerful ace to pocket the first set and asserted himself with an early break at the start of the second set, as the 20-year-old Mensik’s level briefly dipped in his maiden Grand Slam semi-final.
Mensik sat with a towel over his head during a changeover and his troubles deepened after the restart, when Zverev took his game up a few notches and sealed a double break, before comfortably doubling his lead in the match. After a long medical timeout for a neck issue, Czech Mensik mixed his booming serve with deft drop shots to break for a 4-2 lead en route to winning the third set, but Zverev powered through the next with no drama to prevail.
Arnaldi withdraws from French Open semi-final
Cobolli reached the French Open final after his semi-final opponent, fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi, withdrew from the match on Friday due to a virus.
“It’s not what I wanted to do. Last night I started to feel unwell and then at dinner I started to feel so, so in my stomach and then I woke up at 1am and started vomiting,” Arnaldi told reporters.
“I could not sleep at all. At 6-7 I vomited again and we called the doctor to the room and he gave me some stuff. But then throughout today I could not eat – every time I would eat or drink I would go back to the bathroom.”
It will be Cobolli’s first Grand Slam final.
Published – June 05, 2026 09:27 pm IST