<p>Zverev reached his fourth Grand ‌Slam title clash by beating Czech 26th seed Jakub Mensik 7-5, 6-2, 3‑6, 6-3 on Friday, shortly before ‌10th seed Cobolli advanced when fellow Italian Matteo Arnaldi withdrew due to a ‌viral illness.</p><p>Looking ahead to the final, where he will seek his maiden major trophy, Zverev ‌struck a respectful tone when discussing his opponent's family.</p><p>"<strong>We got closer at the ‌Laver Cup in 2024 in Berlin</strong>," Zverev told reporters.</p><p>"<strong>Sometimes when there were difficult moments, his father used to come up to me and would ask me questions. He would ask my father questions about ‌tennis, about different things</strong>.</p><p>"<strong>I was always very happy to ⁠talk to him. I think that's when it ‌started. With some people it just continues naturally, and it does with Flavio</strong>."</p><p>The mutual respect ​has carried into their rivalry, which stands at 3-1 to Zverev after he gained revenge in the Madrid quarter-finals for a loss to Cobolli in the ​semis in Munich.</p><p>"He's a great player and a great guy," Zverev added.</p><p>"<strong>I look forward to playing him in the final. Of course, it's his first final, I'm happy ⁠for him that he reached ​it. But yeah, the only thing I can control is that I play good tennis. I'll try to show my level</strong>.</p><p>"I'll try to do the right things. That's the only thing that matters to me."</p>

'I could play again now'

<p>Zverev said Cobolli being fresher ‌by not playing his semi-final would have no bearing on the final.</p><p>"<strong>I feel fine. I didn't have brutally long matches. I feel like I could play again now</strong>," Zverev said.</p><p>"<strong>I think it's not the way that you want a semi-final of a Grand Slam to happen, but I also saw Matteo in the locker room, and he looked awful. I understand it</strong>.</p><p>"There's nothing much he can do. Things like that happen. We're all human. We don't wish for them to happen, but they do. I don't think it's going to be a big difference on Sunday."</p><p>After losing last year's Australian ‌Open final, his third defeat in the title round on the biggest stage, Zverev ​said he had no difficulty staying calm in the months that followed.</p><p>"It's not ‌been that long. It was last year," Zverev added.</p><p>"<strong>Throughout most of the time I was either number two or number three in the world. So I do feel like I can get back to those stages, and I do feel like I'll get back to the stages throughout the entire period</strong>.</p><p>"<strong>I didn't play ⁠well last year ... but I felt like ⁠I was going to find it ‌again. I'm happy to be back at this stage</strong>."</p>