The first German man to claim a singles major since Boris Becker at Melbourne Park three decades ago, Zverev fulfilled his destiny on his 125th Grand slam match win on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

No player has notched more victories before their breakthrough.

Redemption came two years after he let a two-set lead slip against Carlos Alcaraz with the trophy on the line. Two years earlier, when in a commanding position against eventual champion Rafael Nadal, he had cruelly succumbed to a badly rolled ankle that sidelined him for six months.

“This court is so special to me in so many ways," Zverev said. I've had the best moments of my life on this court. I had the worst moment of my life on these courts. I was laying in that corner over there four years ago with seven broken ligaments and two fractured bones.

“I lost a Grand Slam final here two years ago, but now, finally, it's a happy ending," he added. "I really felt like the crowd was pushing me throughout the entire two weeks.”

Heading into the showdown, Zverev had claimed three of the pair’s four earlier meetings.

Previous results, though, counted for little given the magnitude of the prize and opportunity at stake.

With Zverev’s two most recent Slam final tormentors – Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz – and 24-time major winner Novak Djokovic out of the picture before the second week this year, never had he assumed the favourite label so soon on such a stage.

Regardless of the outcome, it loomed as the most defining day of the 29-year-old’s career and despite momentary blips, he stayed the course in his fourth major final to prevail after four hours and 16 minutes.

“We've been through so much. We've been through injuries, we've been through heartbreak, we've been through losses, we've been losers at times as well in the most important moments,” Zverev said of his team. “But at the end of the day, we're Grand Slam champions now and that's what counts.”

Assured of a top-10 debut for reaching his first Slam final, Cobolli had already denied fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime before benefitting from a semifinal walkover from compatriot Matteo Arnaldi.

Bidding to become just the third Italian man to share in Grand Slam singles spoils after Adriano Panatta and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, he fell just one set short of pulling off the final boilover of the most unpredictable of Roland-Garros fortnights.

“Alex, if someone asks me who deserves more this title, I always say you,” Cobolli said. “It's been an honour for our relationship to share the court with you today. I'm happy for you, but I'm also sad because I was close and I feel it. Now that you achieve your dream, let me win the next time.

“It's always unbelievable to play here. It's one of the best weeks of my life, and this is the best Grand Slam ever for me.”

Trailing two sets to one, the Italian did not shy from going big. Whirring his racquet above his head to ramp up the volume from the stands, the 24-year-old was determined to inject spectator support into the equation and as the match ticked over three hours, Zverev began to shake out his legs.

The second seed threw caution to the wind, breaking the Italian as he attempted to send it to a decider with a trifecta of bold pinpoint winners down the line to level at 5-all.

From 3-1 up in the fourth-set tiebreak, however, Zverev lost four points on the trot, and if fortune favoured the brave, Cobolli had it in spades when he pulled off his most audacious drop shot to bring up two set points.

The ascendancy was short-lived and just as Zverev looked to be struggling he began his final push with a double break in the deciding set.

He had been in a similar position before but was not prepared to let déjà vu creep in this time round. His greatest previous opportunity had slipped through his fingers when he failed to serve out a nerve-racked five-setter against fellow first-time Slam finalist Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open decider.

Subsequent major finals defeats – to Alcaraz in Paris in 2024 and in straight sets to Jannik Sinner in last year’s Australian Open final – left many believing the next generation had surpassed him.

Not so on Sunday. Zverev never blinked with the prize in sight. The first to win his maiden Slam at Roland-Garros since Nadal 21 years ago, patience and persistence finally paid the ultimate reward.