PARIS — Alexander Zverev advanced to the French Open final by defeating Jakub Mensik in the men's singles semifinals on Friday.
The second-seeded German won 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 on Court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland Garros. The match lasted three hours and one minute, according to tournament officials.
Zverev reached his fourth Grand Slam final and second at the French Open. Mensik, the 26th seed from the Czech Republic and a 20-year-old first-time major semifinalist, pushed the match to four sets.
Zverev took the opening set 7-5 after breaking Mensik late. He dominated the second set 6-2, breaking twice in a 33-minute frame while maintaining a high first-serve percentage. Mensik mounted a comeback in the third set, winning it 6-3. Zverev regained control in the fourth set to close out the victory.
The win moved Zverev one victory away from his first Grand Slam title. He will face Flavio Cobolli of Italy in Sunday's final. Cobolli advanced after his opponent, Matteo Arnaldi, withdrew before their semifinal due to illness.
"This was my toughest challenge so far in the tournament," Zverev said after the match, according to quotes provided by tournament organizers. "Mensik is a great player and he showed why he reached the semifinals."
Zverev, the world No. 2, has been a consistent contender at majors but entered the event seeking his first title. Mensik, a rising talent, had impressed earlier in the tournament with his run to the last four.
The match featured strong serving from Zverev, who recorded multiple aces, while Mensik dealt with physical demands on the clay surface. Details of specific statistics such as total winners and unforced errors were available through official channels but varied slightly across reports.
French Open organizers confirmed the result shortly after the match concluded on Friday evening in Paris. Zverev had previously reached the 2024 French Open final, losing to Carlos Alcaraz.
As of Saturday, both players were preparing for their respective next matches, with Zverev aiming to end his wait for a major championship and Cobolli seeking his first. No further updates on injuries or withdrawals were reported for the finalists.
The 2026 French Open continues with the women's final and men's final scheduled for the weekend.
