Alexander Zverev stormed into the French Open final on Friday, 6 June 2025, defeating Czech teenager Jakub Mensik 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in a three-hour-and-one-minute semi-final on Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris. The German world No. 2 is now one win away from the first Grand Slam title of his career.

Key Developments

The victory sends Zverev into his second Roland Garros final and the fourth Grand Slam final of his career — placing him level with Stan Wawrinka for the fifth-highest tally among active men's players. He has dropped just two sets across the entire tournament, capitalising on the early exits of top seeds Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.

Zverev will face either Flavio Cobolli or Matteo Arnaldi in Sunday's championship match, with the title representing the one major honour still missing from his résumé.

How the Match Unfolded

Mensik came out with intent in the opening set, producing a stunning sliding backhand winner to earn the first break points of the match. Zverev, however, drew on his experience to save all three and broke serve at 5-5 to clinch the set. The second set was one-sided — Zverev's precise passing shots and baseline control neutralised Mensik's aggressive game, giving the German a comfortable two-set cushion.

A medical timeout early in the third set appeared to reset Mensik. He returned with sharper variation and drop-shot play that disrupted Zverev's rhythm, taking the set to briefly revive hopes of a comeback. Zverev responded decisively: he raced to a 3-0 lead in the fourth set and never looked back, closing out the match with the composure that has defined his run in Paris.

Zverev's Grand Slam Record

At 29 years old, Zverev carries a weight of near-misses into Sunday's final. He was runner-up at the US Open in 2020, lost the Australian Open final last year, and famously stood one set from the French Open title in 2024 before an injury intervened. Each defeat has sharpened his resolve, and his current form — five wins without losing more than two sets — suggests he arrives in the best shape of any of those previous campaigns.

'He started playing amazingly in the third set,' Zverev said of Mensik after the match. 'He really stepped up to another level. But this is a Grand Slam; it's best-of-five set matches. Opponents are going to play better. You have to deal with it. I did, and I hope to play another great match on Sunday.'

Mensik's Impressive Run

Despite the defeat, Mensik leaves Paris with his reputation significantly enhanced. The Czech teenager had entered the semi-final carrying hopes of becoming the youngest Roland Garros finalist since Rafael Nadal in 2006. His run will lift him 11 spots to No. 16 in the ATP Live Rankings, underlining his status as one of the brightest young talents in the men's game.

Zverev acknowledged the scale of the challenge Mensik posed. 'It's amazing the way he played these past two weeks,' he said. 'I knew it was going to be the toughest challenge I had so far. I managed. I won. So I'm happy.'

What's Next

Zverev's head-to-head record against Mensik now stands at 2-0, with their previous meeting coming at Madrid earlier this year. Sunday's final at Roland Garros will be watched as one of the most anticipated Grand Slam title matches of the season — and potentially a defining moment in Zverev's career.