Carlos Alcaraz. Image source: @LaureusSport on X
Carlos Alcaraz is the new Roland-Garros champion. The 21-year-old Spanish second seed and current world number two beat German fourth seed Alexander Zverev in a five-set thriller that lasted over four hours to clinch the trophy. He won the match 6-3 2-6 7-5 6-1 6-2 to become the youngest player in the history of tennis to win Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces. Carlitos now has three major titles as he continues to break records and etch his name in tennis history. The Prince of Clay won the 2022 US Open, the 2023 Wimbledon, and now the 2024 Roland-Garros.
Image source; @rolandgarros on X
Alcaraz grew up playing on clay and has long dreamt of winning on the red dirt of the Roland-Garros. He immediately fell on his back on the clay when he made the forehand shot that would win him the title after four hours and 19 minutes.
Image source; @rolandgarros on X
Zverev, who was hoping to land his first major title, will have to continue his search. The 27-year-old’s first major title will have to come after two defeats in Grand Slam finals. The German lost to Dominic Thiem at the US Open in 2020 from two sets up and has now lost the Roland Garros to Alcaraz in 2024.
Alexander Zverev. Image source; @rolandgarros on X
“I feel like I did everything I could”, Zverev said. “Carlos played fantastic. He played better than me in the fourth and the fifth set. It’s how it is.”
Alexander Zverev. Image source; @rolandgarros on X
Going into the Roland-Garros, Alcaraz had not played for a month due to pain in his right forearm and had to wear a support throughout the tournament. He missed the Italian Open as a consequence while Zverev won the prestigious title in Rome. The pair’s head-to-head record before the match was 5-4 in Zverev’s favour. The German had beaten Alcaraz at the Roland-Garros in the 2022 quarter-finals and earlier this year at the Australian Open. Alcaraz on the other hand had beaten Zverev in the 2023 US Open finals and had two major titles under his belt; the 2022 US Open and 2023 Wimbledon. The Spaniard had also just defeated new world number one Jannik Sinner in the semifinals. Both men had reasons to be concerned as the match could have easily gone either way.
Carlos Alcaraz. Image source; @rolandgarros on X
Alcaraz grew in confidence through the first set which he won 6-3 as he capitalized on Zverev’s errors.
The second set went to Zverev as he found more depth and certainty with his returning. He outplayed Alcaraz who lost five games in a row from a 2-1 lead. The set eventually ended 2-6 to Zverev.
Carlos Alcaraz. Image source; @rolandgarros on X
The pivotal third set came with an increase in intensity. Zverev had to level up 5-5. from a 5-2 deficit before eventually winning the set 7-5. Consistency and momentum continued to fluctuate for both players as the match wore on.
Alcaraz won the fourth set 6-1 to force a deciding fifth set. Zverev’s form appeared to dip sharply in the fourth and fifth sets and the Spaniard quickly capitalized on his opponent’s mistakes. Eventually, Alcaraz served a demoralized Zverev a breadstick in the final set which the Spaniard won 6-2.
Carlos Alcaraz. Image source; @rolandgarros on X
The Prince of Clay as Alcaraz is commonly called could become the youngest player in the history of the sport to win a career Grand Slam if he wins the Australian Open in 2025, 2026, or 2027. The current record is held by the King of Clay himself Rafael Nadela who completed his career grand slam by age 24. The year is far from over and there are still two major tournaments to play. How do you think Alcaraz will perform? Do you think he can win the next Australian Open?