Winner Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates with the trophy as he won the men’s final of the French Open tennis tournament against Alexander Zverev of Germany at Roland Garros stadium in Paris on Sunday.
Thibault Camus/AP
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Thibault Camus/AP
PARIS — Like Carlos Alcaraz began building on his comeback in Sunday’s French Open final, with a 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Alexander Zverev to claim the title first at Roland Garros and third Grand Slam title in total, there came the kind of magical shots the kid is making a regular part of his varied repertoire.
It was a forehand pass winner on the run, then sliding, down the touchline, untouchable that Alcaraz celebrated by lifting his right index finger upwards in a “No. 1”, then delivered a headbutt while shouting, “Vamos!”
No, he’s not ranked No. 1 right now — the man he beat in the semis, Jannik Sinner, made his debut at the top on Monday — but Alcaraz was there before and although the number “2” will be next to his name next week, there is no doubt that he is as good as he is in men’s tennis. And more successful than any man his age.
Alcaraz is a 21-year-old from Spain who grew up coming home from school to watch on TV as compatriot Rafael Nadal was amassing title after title at Roland Garros – a record 14 – and he surpassed Nadal to become the youngest person to win major championships. on three surfaces. Nadal was about a year and a half older when he did that.
“Different tournaments, different auras,” Alcaraz said when asked to differentiate his trio of titles, “but I will say: the feeling is the same. I mean, winning a Grand Slam is always special.”
The player comes from the clay-court major with hardware from wins on hard courts at the US Open in 2022 and on grass courts at Wimbledon in 2023. He is 3-0 in finals Slam ending.
“It’s been a great career. You are already a Hall of Famer. You have achieved so much – and you are only 21 years old,” said Zverev, who also lost the 2020 US Open final, that one after coming within two points of victory. “Incredible player. This is not the last time you win this.”
Zverev, a 27-year-old from Germany, has exited the French Open in the semifinals for the past three years, including after tearing ankle ligaments in the second set against Nadal in that round in 2022. Several Hours before Zverev’s semi-final victory over Casper Ruud began on Friday, a Berlin district court announced that he had reached an out-of-court settlement, ending the trial stemming from his friend’s assault charges ex-girlfriend in an argument in 2020.
On Sunday against Alcaraz, Zverev faltered after blowing an early lead while losing the final five games of the third set. Alcaraz’s level dropped during that period and he seemed distracted by complaints about the condition of the clay courts, telling chair umpire Renaud Lichtenstein that it was “unbelievable”.
But Alcaraz took the reset and ran with it, playing in 12 of the last 15 games while being treated by his trainer at the locker room for some pain and cramping in his left leg.
“I knew that when I played the fifth set, you have to give everything and you have to give your heart,” Alcaraz said. “I mean, in those moments, that’s where the top players show their best tennis.”
No. 3 seed Alcaraz and No. 4 Zverev are appearing in a French Open final for the first time. Indeed, this is the first men’s title match at Roland Garros since 2004 without at least one Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer.
Nadal, 38 and limited by injuries the past two seasons, lost to Zverev in the first round two weeks ago; Djokovic, 37, a three-time champion, withdrew before the quarterfinals because of a knee injury that required surgery; Federer, 42 years old, has retired.
There were some worries from the start. Zverev started with two double faults – changing rackets after the second, as if equipment were the culprit – and broke. Alcaraz also lost serve immediately.
Let’s just say they won’t spend those first 10 minutes at the Louvre. In fact, most of the match, which lasted 4 hours and 19 minutes, was quite patchy, scattered with unnecessary errors.
Alcaraz was at his best when it mattered most – the final two sets.
“I lost concentration and when I served, I didn’t get the power from my legs anymore, which was strange. Because normally I don’t feel tired. I don’t have cramps,” Zverev said. “Against Carlos, it was a different intensity.”
Just as he did against Zverev, Alcaraz overturned a two-set deficit to one against Sinner, making him the first man to win the French Open by doing so in both close matches. the most since Manolo Santana – also from Spain – in 1961.
Alcaraz showed off all his skills: drop shots, artful volleys, fearsome forehands executed with force and with a loud grunt. His 27 forehands are 20 more than Zverev’s total.
Not bad for a guy who came to Paris saying he was afraid to play full forehand because of a forearm injury that kept him out for most of May. He said on Sunday that there were “a lot of doubts” going into the French Open and he was forced to limit his practice time – which is why he sees this win as a proud moment. most proud of his young career.
In the fifth set, under constant pressure from Alcaraz, Zverev was broken and led 2-1. The next match showed the grit and courage that were hallmarks of Alcaraz’s style.
Zverev – who contested an Alcaraz second serve that the German said was later ruled out according to an unofficial video review – would have four break points. He cannot convert any. Alcaraz did not let him and ended the match with a shot.
The crowd roared. Alcaraz put his left index finger to his ear while waving his racket. He broke again for 5-2, then served and lay on his back, stamping his shirt with clay – just like Nadal often does after winning a championship point.
Alcaraz first learned to play tennis on a rusty surface, although he said he preferred hard courts. Alcaraz said he has long dreamed of adding his name to the list of Spanish winners of this tournament, which includes his coach, 2003 champion Juan Carlos Ferrero.
And the red and yellow Spanish flags that have become an annual fixture at Court Philippe Chatrier during the Nadal era appeared again on Sunday, this time for Alcaraz. Difference? Cries of “Ra-fa! Ra-fa!” now “Car-los! Xe-los!
