PARIS — Carlos Alcaraz came back to defeat Alexander Zverev 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 on Sunday and win the French Open for his third Grand Slam title.
Alcaraz is a 21-year-old from Spain who grew up watching countryman Rafael Nadal win trophy after trophy at Roland Garros — a record 14 in all — and now has eclipsed Nadal as the youngest man to collect major championships on three surfaces. Nadal was about 1 1/2 years older when he did it.
Sunday’s victory — in which he trailed two sets to one, just as he had in the semifinals against Jannik Sinner on Friday — allowed Alcaraz to add the clay-court championship at Roland Garros to his triumphs on hard courts at the U.S. Open in 2022 and on grass at Wimbledon in 2023.
Alcaraz is now 3-0 in Grand Slam finals.
Zverev dropped to 0-2 in major title matches. The 27-year-old from Germany was the runner-up at the 2020 U.S. Open after blowing a two-set lead against Dominic Thiem.
This time, Zverev lost after surging in front by reeling off the last five games of the third set. Alcaraz’s level dipped during that stretch and he seemed distracted by a complaint over the condition of the clay at Court Philippe Chatrier, telling chair umpire Renaud Lichtenstein it was “unbelievable.”
But Alcaraz reset himself and surged to the finish, taking 12 of the last 15 games while being treated by a trainer at changeovers for an issue with his left leg.
No. 3 Alcaraz and No. 4 Zverev were making their first appearance in a French Open final. Indeed, this was the first men’s title match at Roland Garros since 2004 without Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer.
Nadal lost to Zverev in the first round two weeks ago; Djokovic, a three-time champion, withdrew before the quarterfinals with a knee injury that required surgery; Federer is retired.
There were some jitters at the outset. Zverev started the proceedings with a pair of double-faults — walking to the sideline to change rackets after the second, as though the equipment was the culprit — and eventually got broken. Alcaraz lost serve immediately, too, framing a forehand that sent the ball into the stands — which he would do on a handful of occasions — and double-faulting, trying a so-so drop shot that led to an easy winner for Zverev, then missing a backhand.
Let’s just say they won’t be putting those initial 10 minutes in the Louvre. A lot of the 4-hour, 19-minute match was patchy, littered with unforced errors.
Alcaraz managed to come out strong in the fourth set, grabbing 16 of the first 21 points to move out to a 4-0 edge, including one brilliant, sliding, down-the-line forehand passing winner that he celebrated by thrusting his right index finger overhead in a “No. 1” sign, then throwing an uppercut while screaming, “Vamos!”
No, he is not ranked No. 1 at the moment — Sinner makes his debut at the top spot on Monday — but he has been before and, although a “2” will be beside Alcaraz’s name next week, there is little doubt that he is as good as it gets in men’s tennis right now.
In a thrilling and unexpected turn of events, Carlos Alcaraz staged an incredible comeback to defeat Alexander Zverev and claim the French Open championship. The young Spanish player showed immense resilience and determination as he fought back from a two-set deficit to secure the victory in a five-set thriller.
Alcaraz, who is only 18 years old, displayed maturity beyond his years as he faced off against the more experienced Zverev. Despite being down two sets to none, Alcaraz never lost belief in himself and continued to fight for every point. His aggressive style of play and powerful groundstrokes kept Zverev on the defensive, ultimately wearing down the German player and forcing him to make errors.
The momentum shifted in Alcaraz’s favor as he won the third and fourth sets, sending the match into a decisive fifth set. The tension was palpable as both players battled fiercely for every point, but it was Alcaraz who ultimately emerged victorious, clinching the championship with a final score of 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5, 6-4.
This victory marks a significant milestone in Alcaraz’s young career, solidifying his status as one of the rising stars in the world of tennis. His performance at the French Open has not only earned him his first Grand Slam title but also garnered him widespread praise and admiration from fans and fellow players alike.
As Alcaraz celebrates his historic win, he can take pride in knowing that he overcame incredible odds and adversity to achieve his dream of winning a Grand Slam championship. His tenacity and fighting spirit serve as an inspiration to aspiring tennis players everywhere, proving that with hard work and determination, anything is possible on the court.