Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport tennis news reporter at Roland Garros

Groans already from the 15,000 crowd when Cobolli double faults.

They want to see a contest, of course, but that reaction is not going to settle his nerves.

Not a good start for Flavio Cobolli. An early double fault gifts Alexander Zverev a 0-30 lead.

Some nervous energy, perhaps?

Image source, Reuters

The 2026 men's singles final at Roland Garros is under way.

Flavio Cobolli serves first to get us started...

The umpire calls time on the warm-ups. We're nearly ready to go...

So who's going to win it?

Thumbs up if you think Flavio Cobolli. Thumbs down if you reckon Alexander Zverev.

Image source, Getty Images

And here's how Alexander Zverev, the second seed, got here...

• First round: 6-3 6-4 6-2 v Benjamin Bonzi
• Second round: 6-4 6-2 6-2 v Tomas Machac
• Third round: 6-4 6-3 5-7 6-2 v Quentin Halys
• Fourth round: 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-1 v Jesper de Jong
• Quarter-finals: 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 6-3 v Rafael Jodar [27]
• Semi-finals: 7-5 6-2 3-6 6-3 v Jakub Mensik [26]

The German has played tennis 14 hours and 43 minutes at this year's Roland Garros.

Image source, Getty Images

Here's how 10th seed Flavio Cobolli nagivated his way to the final...

• First round: 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 v Andrea Pellegrino
• Second round: 6-4 6-4 6-4 v Wu Yibing
• Third round: 6-2 6-2 6-3 v Learner Tien [18]
• Fourth round: 6-2 6-3 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-5) v Zachary Svajda
• Quarter-finals: 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-4 v Felix Auger-Aliassime [4]
• Semi-finals: Walkover v Matteo Arnaldi

The Italian has spent a total of 13 hours and one minute on court.

Tim Henman
Former British number one on TNT Sports

Image source, EPA

The start is really important. It is important for Cobolli, to settle down in his first Grand Slam final. Zverev will try to use that experience to set the tone and be aggressive.

It's been building for the past couple of weeks and it's now about staying consumed by the process, not thinking about the outcome, which is easier said than done.

Ryan Harrison
Former French Open men's doubles champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

On Alexander Zverev's serve...

It is going to be a big factor. Zverev is going to get more free points off his serve than Flavio Cobolli is.

Image source, Reuters

Along with a first Grand Slam trophy, there's also ranking points and prize money on the line today.

The winner will take home £2.4m, while the runner-up will get £1.2m.

Flavio Cobolli will secure his top-10 debut on Monday when the rankings are updated, but he could jump to fifth if wins the title.

Alexander Zverev, meanwhile, is guaranteed to remain the world number three.

Here they are...

Flavio Cobolli takes a quick glance at the board of champions as he walks out from the locker room. Can he add his name to that list today?

The Italian looks nervous as he emerges on Court Philippe Chatrier, giving a brief nod and wave to the crowd.

Alexander Zverev looks the more confident of the two as he strides out with a smile.

Alexander Zverev is attempting to win his 25th and biggest tour-level title of career.

He's also hoping to become the first German men's singles champion at Roland Garros in the Open era, and the first German men's singles major winner since Boris Becker at the 1996 Australian Open.

Daniela Hantuchova
Former world number five on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Flavio Cobolli said he picked tennis because of the fact it is an individual sport. It makes you grow up and makes you so much stronger as a person.

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

For Flavio Cobolli, he could have chosen football, and he was at Roma academy during his youth. He was there with Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Flavio Cobolli has joked that his progress in Paris is down to his superstitious nature.

Over the past fortnight he has stuck to a winning routine - thanking the crowd in French, eating at the same restaurant every night, and showering in the Roland Garros cubicle that 14-time champion Rafael Nadal always used.

"I'm a little bit [superstitious] but not crazy - this week I'm a little bit more crazy than the others," Cobolli added.

Tim Henman
Former British number one on TNT Sports

Flavio Cobolli has got that happy-go-lucky appearance and mindset and he's always having fun. Winning or losing, he's playing with that flair and passion and that's been clear in his run through this tournament.

He is out there playing the best tennis of his life and enjoying every step of the way.

Ryan Harrison
Former French Open men's doubles champion on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

For Flavio Cobolli it is going to be a new experience. He has not walked out for a Slam final before and this is Alexander Zverev's fourth final. Zverev will look to take experience from those previous matches.

Image source, Getty Images

Flavio Cobolli and Alexander Zverev will be doing everything they can to defeat each other on the court today. But off it, they are actually good friends.

The pair became friends when they were team-mates at the 2024 Laver Cup - where an Europe side takes on a World team - and have gone on to form what Zverev calls a "natural" bond.

After his Roland Garros semi-final, Zverev described how 24-year-old Cobolli regularly picks his brains about the sport.

Cobolli said they enjoy chatting about movies, while their fathers - who are also their coaches - are also friendly.