Zverev chases his first Grand Slam, while breakthrough star Cobolli looks to complete a stunning Roland Garros run
Two top-ranked tennis players go head-to-head in the final of the French Open men’s final this morning on Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris.
No. 3 ranked Alexander Zverev of Germany takes on No. 10-ranked Flavio Cobolli of Italy on the Grand Slam final stage, starting at 9 a.m. EST.
In tennis betting at Betway, Zverev is the big favorite, at -500, Cobolli at +350.
If you’re throwing some money at Cobolli, to pull off what would be a massive upset, you’re focusing on the fact he’s fresh from a walkover. Cobolli has had three extra days of rest due to Matteo Arnaldi pulling out of their semifinal match due to a sudden and severe viral illness.
So Cobolli walks into his first Grand Slam final without having played a gruelling semifinal match. The clay court finals at Roland Garros can be physically demanding, so the young Italian walks in with more energy and sharpness.
Then there’s the fact that Cobolli beat Zverev on clay in Munich earlier this year (before Zverev beat Cobolli in a rematch in Madrid).
The pro-Italian crowd is going to back Cobolli this morning, and as the underdog he will be playing free and loose, with his strong baseline game. This is a breakthrough run, his first major final where he has momentum, and it included an impressive 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 quarter-final win over No. 4-ranked Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada.
“I think we played two different matches today. The first set was incredibly windy and tough to play,” Cobolli after the quarter-final match, talking about the windy first-set conditions before the roof was closed at the start of the second set. “I went to the toilet to think a bit and change something. This is the best court I have played on in my life because I can bring my best tennis. I said to myself to fight as I felt this would be the chance of my life and I have to give everything in my matches and today I did it.”
Cobolli’s clay-court game is built on pressure, using early positioning, spin and persistence to disrupt opponents. His forehand and court craft are tailor-made for Roland Garros, while his resilience has helped him overcome deficits throughout the tournament.
If you’re going with the betting favourite Zverev the reasons are plentiful.
There’s his experience in Grand Slam finals (this is his fourth, including leading two sets to one in the 2024 Roland Garros final, before falling to Carlos Alcaraz).
He has a superior serve, a major weapon on clay, and all the physical tools, allowing him to dictate play and dominate early.
The German is 6-foot-6, with a powerful backhand as well, so he can wear down opponents in rallies.
Plus it just feels like it’s his time, after years of near misses and injuries. The fact he’s just dropped two sets all tournament is the wind behind that narrative.
Some interesting bets at Betway, to look at. Remember, tennis finals are unpredictable: Zverev to Win 3-1 in Sets (+240), with his experience edge in deep Grand Slam runs, and Total Games Over 37.5 (-120), since Cobolli will take at least one set. That total is low.
