Carlos Alcaraz was made to sweat but claimed his first French Open title by beating Alexander Zverev 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2 in Sunday’s final at Roland Garros.
The 21-year-old filled the Rafael Nadal-sized void at Roland Garros with a marathon victory in four hours and 19 minutes.
Fourth seed Zverev had sent Nadal’s old man out on the shield for the very last time in the first round.
But youngster Alcaraz beat the German to join fellow Spaniard Nadal as the only men to lift the Roland Garros trophy under the age of 22.
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Carlos Alcaraz now…
The youngest person ever to become the No. 1 World (19 years, 4 months, 6 days).
Youngest man to ever win a Grand Slam title on all three surfaces (21 years, 1 month, 3 days).
First man to win three major titles on three different surfaces.
“It’s been a great journey, the last two weeks. This is a tournament I’ve wanted to win since I was a kid – when I was watching this tournament since I was five or six – so it’s a dream come true,” said the Spaniard. Eurosport.
“It was difficult, Zverev played very good tennis, he put a lot of pressure on me with his serve. I won the first set but I really could have lost. It was difficult with the wind and the surface but we have to find a way and adapt our game to the conditions.”
The Spaniard became the youngest man to win a Grand Slam title on all three surfaces, adding Paris clay to his US Open hard court success and last year’s win on Wimbledon grass.
He has a perfect record in major finals, while for Zverev it is two defeats from two after losing to Dominic Thiem at the US Open four years ago.
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Alcaraz was the clear aggressor in the first set and he took it in the 43rd minute.
But Zverev’s forehand began to fire and he was 3-2 up in the second set after Alcaraz returned to the crowd.
A sizzling pass from Zverev sent a cloud of dust erupting from the court as he brought up a double break on the way to leveling the match.
Alcaraz found his distance again early in the third when a superb volley produced three break points – his first on Zverev’s serve all set – and he sent the first to lead 4-2.
But Alcaraz suddenly lost more often than his opponent and Zverev reeled off five games, saving a break point at 6-5, to advance.
But has finally got the service held on the board and returned from so far back almost sitting on the lap of Bjorn Borg in the front row of the president’s box, Alcaraz broke with a violent forehand down the line.
Alcaraz needed treatment on his left thigh but stayed out to take the match to a deciding set.
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A tired service game from Zverev, who has spent almost 24 hours on the court this fortnight, gave Alcaraz an early advantage.
‘Carlos, Carlos’ chanted the crowd at Philippe Chatrier in a scene usually reserved for 14-time winner Nadal.
He got back on his feet when a stunning backhand cross court winner helped secure another break.
Four minutes later the man from Murcia was lying on his back, Nadal-style, celebrating the victory that had seemed destined.
“You’re already a Hall of Famer and you’ve achieved so much,” Zverev said. “You have achieved so much at the age of 21 – an outstanding player. This is not the last time he will win.
“It was amazing, I really enjoyed playing on this beautiful pitch – I’ll be back next year.”
List of men in the Open Era to win major singles titles on hard courts, grass courts and clay courts
Andre Agassi
Jimmy Connors
Novak Djokovic
Roger Federer
Rafael Nadal
Mats Wilander
Carlos Alcaraz
Tale of the Tape
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‘This sport needs Alcaraz!’
Three-time French Open champion Mats Wilander on Eurosport:
“We need Alcaraz more than anything in our sport right now. He needs to keep winning majors every year.
“If he does this, he will change our sport in many ways because he is like a breath of fresh air, his smile is good and he is humble. This is good for professional tennis.”
‘Alcaraz is a great ambassador for tennis’
British tennis legend Tim Henman on Eurosport:
“To listen to his words, he is very humble, so down to earth, he has great values and he is a great ambassador for our sport.
“To be 21 and to have won three different Grand Slams, it will be exciting to watch him in the future.”
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