How do professional athletes manage to be friends while competing for the sport’s biggest prizes?<\/p>\n
The current generation of tennis players seem to be closer than ever, with French Open finalists Alexander Zverev and Flavio Cobolli among those who are good mates.<\/p>\n
But both men insist it will not be difficult to separate their personal friendship from their professional focus – which on Sunday will be winning a Grand Slam title for the first time.<\/p>\n
Second seed Zverev and Italian 10th seed Cobolli will meet for a third time on clay this season, with Cobolli having won in Munich before Zverev beat him in Madrid at the next tournament.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
After his Roland Garros semi-final, Zverev described how 24-year-old Cobolli regularly picks his brains about the sport.<\/p>\n
Cobolli said they enjoy chatting about movies, while their fathers – who are also their coaches – are friendly.<\/p>\n
“He’s a great player, a great guy,” said Zverev.<\/p>\n
“I like him. I like his dad a lot. They are very good people. It’s his first final, so I’m happy for him that he reached it.”<\/p>\n
Germany’s Zverev is the favourite to finally land the major title he has long been predicted to win – although the 29-year-old has lost his three previous Grand Slam finals, including the Roland Garros championship match two years ago.<\/p>\n
“When you play a Grand Slam final, it’s not that difficult [to put friendship aside] because it means you reached the best stage in tennis,” Zverev said.<\/p>\n
“You still try to beat each other and you still try to win, but that’s OK.”<\/p>\n