2026 French Open Men's Final: Zverev vs. Cobolli

[the AntiPusher]

I thought Jannik was the overall better player last year when he blinked serving for the match I just went to hell and back
Kudos to Alcaraz he was in God Mode in that TB and deserved his win
I can see why you were reminded of Wimbledon 2008 though personally I feel Wimbledon 2008 was higher in ways, just my thoughts

I agree, A course 2008 was higher in many ways.. last year's French Open Men's final is probably going to be the new norm for this generation of players and fans.

 

[El Dude]

Wait just a second.. Thiem was an excellent tennis player and he deserved that USO title. look at his h2h vs Novak.. https://www.atptour.com/en/players/atp-head-2-head/novak-djokovic-vs-dominic-thiem/D643/TB69
@El Dude El Dude, as Stephen A Smith says so often. that's so DISRESPECTFUL the Dominator had game. I would say that Andres Gomez was the worst clay court champion at RG that I can remember.. I truly believe Agassi was high on crack during that time. ( I think that was during the Brook Shields years) which was a huge mistake by Andre.. Send me a PM I have a lot of internal sources that knew her in the Bay Area.)

I'm not disrespecting Thiem at all, but he and Cilic are below everyone else to win Slams in the last 20 years until you get to Gaston Gaudio. I was saying that if Cobolli somehow wins, he'll be the worst player to win a Slam since Gaudio (2004), because right now he's a lesser player than Thiem and Cilic, who are the "worst" of the Slam winners in the post-Gaudio world.

A bit added. I actually think Thiem and Del Potro are comparable. Del Potro has a patina of unfulfilled potential due to his injuries, and I think he was better in 2009 than Thiem ever was, but in terms of overall careers, they are close. Cilic is a step below. He's really in the Berdych/Tsonga range, but had that one crazy tournament.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I'm not disrespecting Thiem at all, but he and Cilic are below everyone else to win Slams in the last 20 years until you get to Gaston Gaudio. I was saying that if Cobolli somehow wins, he'll be the worst player to win a Slam since Gaudio (2004), because right now he's a lesser player than Thiem and Cilic, who are the "worst" of the Slam winners in the post-Gaudio world.

A bit added. I actually think Thiem and Del Potro are comparable. Del Potro has a patina of unfulfilled potential due to his injuries, and I think he was better in 2009 than Thiem ever was, but in terms of overall careers, they are close. Cilic is a step below. He's really in the Berdych/Tsonga range, but had that one crazy tournament.

I would agree that Thiem and JMDP are in the same class sorta..but Thiem is much more accomplished player than Berdych or JowillieTs.. I am not got to go on a bit of a soliloquy but there a numerous One slam wonders like Muster, Chan or a few like Yevgeny Kafelnikov who won two slams but not a master series. Thiem is better than all of them including JMDP.

Thiem was ranked world No. 3 in singles by the ATP, achieved in March 2020. Thiem won 17 ATP Tour-level singles titles, including the 2020 US Open. He was also runner-up at three other majors (the 2018 and 2019 French Opens, and at the 2020 Australian Open), and at the 2019 and 2020 ATP Finals. That's a damn good career and I still feel that he could return if he can get the wrist heal. Thiem had no chance to defeat Rafa at RG but he had Novak at Australian Open like several others did but Novak escaped.

 

[britbox]

Agassi and the TNT crew break down the final:

 

[Federberg]

Absolutely agree.

And even if he wins, I don't think he wins another. Sinner should be in at Wimbledon, and Alcaraz joining him at the US Open...I just think that any confidence Zverev gains from (hypothetically) winning RG against Cobolli won't hold against Sincaraz.

But tomorrow still needs to be played. Who knows, maybe Cobolli can pull it out. He'd be the worst player to win a Slam since Gaston Gaudio in 2004, unless he ends up piling on some numbers to pass Cilic and Thiem.

I'll reserve judgement on whether he can win more after this one. Let's see what it does to his confidence and self belief. His willingness to take risks against the top guys. When you've already sealed your legacy it should free you a bit. On pure talent alone, there's no doubt in my mind that Sasha is capable of beating Sincaraz, it was always about taking risks with him. This could change everything. It's entirely possible that after this he'll prove to us that he's even better than we think he is. Of course it could be the opposite and he could just coast after this. We really don't know. I'm excited to learn.

As for this match? I just don't see what weapon Cobolli has that hurts Sasha... IF he's about his business. Basically I believe Sasha will have to choke this one away. He's fully capable of winning this playing within himself, that's the fortunate thing about not having to face Sincaraz or Novak. Zverev in four...

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

A bit added. I actually think Thiem and Del Potro are comparable. Del Potro has a patina of unfulfilled potential due to his injuries, and I think he was better in 2009 than Thiem ever was, but in terms of overall careers, they are close. Cilic is a step below. He's really in the Berdych/Tsonga range, but had that one crazy tournament.

I disagree with Cilic being a step below Thiem. The numbers say otherwise. Cilic has over 600 match wins, whereas Thiem finished with 'only' 348. That's a huge gulf in between.

 

[the AntiPusher]

I disagree with Cilic being a step below Thiem. The numbers say otherwise. Cilic has over 600 match wins, whereas Thiem finished with 'only' 348. That's a huge gulf in between.

This time I am gonna attack both the poster and post.. " You Cannot BE SERIOUS".. @PhiEaglesfan712 list your supported facts. I listed Thiem's stats in a subsequent post.

 

[Federberg]

This time I am gonna attack both the poster and post.. " You Cannot BE SERIOUS".. @PhiEaglesfan712 list your supported facts. I listed Thiem's stats in a subsequent post.

I have to agree with you. Thiem was a threat to the Big 3 even if they were playing decently. If the Big 3 was playing decent against Cilic, it was a wrap. Thiem a step above Cilic for sure

 

[Federberg]

looks like Cobolli has finally arrived at the final

 

[Federberg]

is Cobolli trying to hack him with loopy shite?

 

[don_fabio]

Zverev might self destruct here. We've seen this script before.

 

[Federberg]

well it's working.. now we'll find out if Zverev has a champions pedigree. Figure it out!

 

[Federberg]

not loving the Zverev body language. At this level doesn't he understand it just gives the other guy confidence?? Does he have any match play nous?

 

[Federberg]

jeepers! If the ball is coming back in Sasha's direction there's very little footwork right now to get in position. That must be the weakness. Feet turn to clay under pressure

 

[El Dude]

I would agree that Thiem and JMDP are in the same class sorta..but Thiem is much more accomplished player than Berdych or JowillieTs.. I am not got to go on a bit of a soliloquy but there a numerous One slam wonders like Muster, Chan or a few like Yevgeny Kafelnikov who won two slams but not a master series. Thiem is better than all of them including JMDP.

Thiem was ranked world No. 3 in singles by the ATP, achieved in March 2020. Thiem won 17 ATP Tour-level singles titles, including the 2020 US Open. He was also runner-up at three other majors (the 2018 and 2019 French Opens, and at the 2020 Australian Open), and at the 2019 and 2020 ATP Finals. That's a damn good career and I still feel that he could return if he can get the wrist heal. Thiem had no chance to defeat Rafa at RG but he had Novak at Australian Open like several others did but Novak escaped.

To be clear, I compared Cilic to Berdych/Tsonga, not Thiem, who was clearly on a higher level. I do think that peak Del Potro (2009) was a bit better, though, but that is really just splitting hairs. But we really lost out with both getting hurt.

 

[Federberg]

To be clear, I compared Cilic to Berdych/Tsonga, not Thiem, who was clearly on a higher level. I do think that peak Del Potro (2009) was a bit better, though, but that is really just splitting hairs. But we really lost out with both getting hurt.

Agreed. DelPo on a slightly higher level than Thiem. But I would say that but for injuries Thiem would probably have matched that level. But in saying that the obvious response is that but for injuries DelPo's peak would have been even higher. People often forget that after his first major injury his backhand was never the offensive weapon it used to be, I think he damaged his left wrist and he was never able to extend it in the same way again. We saw what it would have been like in the RG 2009 match he played against Roger. He hit bombs from both sides. I would love to have seen that DelPo playing in majors against the top guys. Their records might not be quite as good. There was power there that couldn't really be dealt with. One of the great tennis tragedies in my opinion

 

[El Dude]

I disagree with Cilic being a step below Thiem. The numbers say otherwise. Cilic has over 600 match wins, whereas Thiem finished with 'only' 348. That's a huge gulf in between.

I may be emphasizing peak more than you. Cilic played a long time, and for much of it he was actually a half-step below Tsonga/Berdych, more of a top 20 guy. Then he had a nice late peak in 2014-18 where he was a fixture in the top 10, basically Tsonga/Berdych with one Slam where he did a Stanimal. But I don't think he was really a better player than the solid 2nd tier types. I think Thiem was overall better in his prime.

Take their best five year spans:

Cilic (2014-18): 9 titles, 1 Masters, 1 Slam; 2 Slam Finals, 1 SF. 225-105 (68.18%)
Thiem (2016-20): 14 titles, 1 Masters, 1 Slam; 3 Slam Finals, 2 SF. 234-99 (70.27%).

It is close, but Thiem has the edge. Now overall, I think they're comparable. Cilic gets the edge for longevity, Thiem for prime.

 

[the AntiPusher]

To be clear, I compared Cilic to Berdych/Tsonga, not Thiem, who was clearly on a higher level. I do think that peak Del Potro (2009) was a bit better, though, but that is really just splitting hairs. But we really lost out with both getting hurt.

Thanks for clarifying…I was saying that’s not like you..it’s all good

 

[El Dude]

Agreed. DelPo on a slightly higher level than Thiem. But I would say that but for injuries Thiem would probably have matched that level. But in saying that the obvious response is that but for injuries DelPo's peak would have been even higher. People often forget that after his first major injury his backhand was never the offensive weapon it used to be, I think he damaged his left wrist and he was never able to extend it in the same way again. We saw what it would have been like in the RG 2009 match he played against Roger. He hit bombs from both sides. I would love to have seen that DelPo playing in majors against the top guys. Their records might not be quite as good. There was power there that couldn't really be dealt with. One of the great tennis tragedies in my opinion

Yeah, agreed. A healthy Del Potro might have been Wawrinka, but with a more well-rounded career (3-4 Slams, a half dozen Masters). We might be talking about Murray vs. Delpo vs. "Best of the Rest" of the Big Three era.

A healthy Thiem might have stolen a Slam or two away from Djokodal in 2021-23. But alas, what could have been.

 

[El Dude]

Back to the match, Zverev takes set 3. So close...