Zverev’s Thrilling Five-Set Victory at Roland-Garros: Match Highlights, Records Broken & What’s Next

Alexander Zverev returns to Court Philippe-Chatrier on Saturday determined to seal his place in the second week of the French Open 2025 when he meets rising Italian Flavio Cobolli in the third round of the men’s singles draw. Momentum after marathon opener The world No. 3 survived a bruising five-set battle against French wild-card Hugo Gaston in round one before finding his range in a straight-sets dismissal of Dutch youngster Jesper de Jong. Those contrasting victories offered a snapshot of both the danger and the depth of Zverev’s clay-court game. His trademark heavy serve, biting backhand and renewed willingness to shorten points have produced 83 winners and 21 aces across the first two matches, while his movement—still scrutinised after last season’s ankle surgery—has looked increasingly fluent. Saturday’s opponent: Flavio Cobolli Cobolli, 22, arrives in Paris at a career-high No. 26 after a breakout spring on European clay, highlighted by a semi-final in Estoril and quarter-final runs in Munich and Rome. The Florence native strikes his forehand with fearless topspin and excels in disruptive drop-shot patterns, a tactical wrinkle observers expect him to test early against the taller German. It is the pair’s first tour-level meeting, although they practised together during last year’s off-season—a session Zverev later described as “eye-opening” for Cobolli’s speed and shot-making. Match time, coverage and streaming • Court Philippe-Chatrier, third match of the day (approx. 14:30 local / 08:30 ET) • Live TV: Tennis Channel (US), Eurosport (UK & Europe), Sky Sport DE (Germany) • Streaming: Roland Garros app, discovery+ (selected territories) Stat check • Zverev owns a 31-6 win-loss record in 2025 and is bidding for a sixth consecutive trip to the Roland Garros fourth round. • The German has converted 67 % of break-point chances so far, the highest of any player left in the men’s draw. • Cobolli is appearing in his first Grand Slam third round; he had never won a major main-draw match before this week. • A victory would give Zverev 90 clay-court wins at tour level, moving him past Boris Becker for second on the all-time German list behind Tommy Haas (95). What’s at stake The winner earns a last-16 date with Tallon Griekspoor, who edged American qualifier Ethan Quinn in a five-set epic earlier on Saturday. Looming beyond is a projected quarter-final with six-time champion Novak Djokovic, provided the Serbian comes through his night-session clash with Austria’s Filip Misolic. For Zverev, that path represents both danger and opportunity: he has not beaten Djokovic at a major since the 2021 US Open but owns two clay-court victories over the 24-time Grand Slam winner in Rome (2017) and Madrid (2018). Player voices • Zverev on his form: “The first round tested my legs, the second proved my shots. Now I want to put both together and play my best tennis.” • Cobolli on the challenge: “I grew up watching Sasha on TV. To face him on Chatrier is a dream, and dreams are where I play my freest tennis.” Keys to the match 1. First-serve percentage: Zverev has landed 70 % this fortnight; dipping below 60 % could open the door for Cobolli’s aggressive returns. 2. Short-ball discipline: Cobolli’s drop shots and angles will drag Zverev forward. The German must finish points at net, where he is 27/34 so far. 3. Managing the crowd: With no French player on court, expect a neutral but lively Saturday atmosphere. Zverev thrives when he channels, rather than resists, the noise. Prediction Cobolli’s shot-making should keep early sets tight, but Zverev’s superior weight of shot and Grand Slam experience give him the edge over five sets. Expect the No. 3 seed to advance in four competitive, entertaining sets and add another stride to what is looking like his most complete clay-court campaign since reaching the 2022 semi-finals.