Cobolli downs World No. 3 Zverev to reach first Munich final Flavio Cobolli ended top seed Alexander Zverev’s Munich Open title defence on Saturday, as the Italian eased past the World No. 3 in straight sets to reach the final.
Fourth seed Cobolli beat the home favourite 6-3, 6-3 in just under 70 minutes in their semifinal.
The 23-year-old’s commanding performance dashed Zverev’s hopes of a record fourth title on the clay in Munich.
Cobolli will face either second seed Ben Shelton of the United States or Slovak qualifier Alex Molčan in Sunday’s final.
“One of my best matches ever against one of my closest friends on tour,” Cobolli said. “I’m a little bit shy when I play a top player, but today I played one of my best matches and I’m really happy.”
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Cobolli took control early, breaking Zverev to love in the fourth game of the opening set.
Zverev struggled to make an impact on Cobolli’s serve, and when the World No. 16 broke again in the first game of the second set, the match began to slip away from the German.
Two powerful crosscourt forehands, followed by a crisp volley to close out the seventh game, handed Cobolli a double break and the opportunity to serve for the match.
Zverev briefly fought back, earning his first break points of the contest and converting on his second attempt to delay the inevitable.
However, Cobolli regained control in the next game, earning match point with a forehand on the run before Zverev miscued a deep return to seal the result.
Cobolli advances to his second final of the season and will look to add to the title he won in Acapulco in February.
Published on Apr 18, 2026
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Flavio Cobolli ended top seed Alexander Zverev’s Munich Open title defence on Saturday, as the Italian eased past the World No. 3 in straight sets to reach the final.
Fourth seed Cobolli beat the home favourite 6-3, 6-3 in just under 70 minutes in their semifinal.
The 23-year-old’s commanding performance dashed Zverev’s hopes of a record fourth title on the clay in Munich.
Cobolli will face either second seed Ben Shelton of the United States or Slovak qualifier Alex Molčan in Sunday’s final.
“One of my best matches ever against one of my closest friends on tour,” Cobolli said. “I’m a little bit shy when I play a top player, but today I played one of my best matches and I’m really happy.”
ALSO READ: Italy to host grasscourt ATP event prior to Wimbledon from 2028
Cobolli took control early, breaking Zverev to love in the fourth game of the opening set.
Zverev struggled to make an impact on Cobolli’s serve, and when the World No. 16 broke again in the first game of the second set, the match began to slip away from the German.
Two powerful crosscourt forehands, followed by a crisp volley to close out the seventh game, handed Cobolli a double break and the opportunity to serve for the match.
Zverev briefly fought back, earning his first break points of the contest and converting on his second attempt to delay the inevitable.
However, Cobolli regained control in the next game, earning match point with a forehand on the run before Zverev miscued a deep return to seal the result.
Cobolli advances to his second final of the season and will look to add to the title he won in Acapulco in February.
Published on Apr 18, 2026
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