Alexander Zverev beats Jakub Mensik to reach French Open 2026 final

Alexander Zverev is one win away from ending his long wait for a maiden Grand Slam title after defeating Jakub Mensik in four sets to reach the 2026 French Open final.

The German second seed overcame the talented Czech youngster 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Friday, booking his second Roland Garros final appearance and fourth Grand Slam final overall.

Zverev will now face Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in Sunday’s championship match after Matteo Arnaldi withdrew from the second semifinal due to illness.

Zverev edges tight opening set

The contest began as a closely fought battle, with Mensik showing little sign of nerves in his first Grand Slam semifinal.

However, Zverev's experience proved decisive in the closing stages of the opening set. At 5-5, the World No. 3 produced a superb backhand winner to earn a crucial break point before forcing an error from Mensik to seize control.

A powerful ace sealed the set and gave Zverev momentum heading into the second.

German takes control

After securing the opener, Zverev elevated his level significantly. The 29-year-old broke early in the second set and repeatedly exposed lapses in Mensik’s game. The Czech struggled to maintain rhythm as Zverev's consistency from the baseline forced errors and shortened points.

A double break advantage helped Zverev race through the set 6-2 and move within one set of the final.

Mensik fights back despite injury concern

The third set saw a determined response from Mensik. Following a lengthy medical timeout for a neck issue, the 20-year-old mixed powerful serving with well-executed drop shots to disrupt Zverev's rhythm.

A crucial break gave him a 4-2 advantage before he closed out the set 6-3, keeping his hopes alive and raising the possibility of a comeback.

Despite the setback, Zverev quickly regained control in the fourth set. The German remained composed under pressure, broke serve at a key moment, and served out the match to secure his place in another major final.

Zverev eyes first Grand Slam title

Zverev has come close to Grand Slam glory on several occasions but is still searching for his first major title.

He finished runner-up at Roland Garros in 2024 and has also fallen short in two other Grand Slam finals. With former champions and top contenders eliminated from this year's draw, the German now has a golden opportunity to finally claim tennis' biggest prize.

Speaking after the match, Zverev acknowledged the challenge posed by Mensik.

"I knew this would be my toughest challenge. I managed it and I won, so I'm happy," he said.

The victory also makes Zverev one of only a handful of active players to reach multiple French Open finals.

Cobolli advances after Arnaldi withdrawal

The second semifinal never took place after Matteo Arnaldi withdrew due to a viral illness. Arnaldi revealed he became unwell overnight and was unable to recover in time for the match.

"It made no sense for me to play, out of respect for him. It would not have been a good match," Arnaldi explained.

The withdrawal handed Flavio Cobolli a direct passage into his first Grand Slam final. Cobolli admitted the circumstances were emotional, given his close friendship and respect for his fellow Italian.

"When he told me the news, I almost cried," Cobolli said. "I have a lot of respect for him and he's an inspiration for many of us."

French Open final set

Sunday's final will now feature two players chasing a career-defining breakthrough. For Cobolli, it will be a first appearance on a Grand Slam final stage. For Zverev, it represents another chance to finally convert years of consistency into a major title.

After overcoming the challenge of Mensik, the German stands just one victory away from joining the exclusive club of Grand Slam champions.

SportsLigue