PARIS: Carlos Alcaraz clinched his maiden French Open championship and secured his third Grand Slam title after a thrilling comeback victory over Alexander Zverev, triumphing 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 in Sunday’s final.
The 21-year-old Spaniard, hailing from Murcia, etched his name in tennis history by surpassing his countryman Rafael Nadal as the youngest man to win major titles on three different surfaces. Alcaraz’s previous Grand Slam triumphs include the 2022 US Open on hard courts and the 2023 Wimbledon title on grass.
In a marathon match lasting 4 hours and 19 minutes, Alcaraz displayed resilience and determination after losing the third set to Zverev’s comeback surge. Despite facing challenges with the condition of the clay court and experiencing discomfort with his left leg, Alcaraz rallied to dominate the latter stages of the match, clinching victory with a combination of skillful shot-making and mental fortitude.
Zverev, the 27-year-old German, put up a formidable challenge, showcasing his power and precision throughout the match. However, despite surging ahead with a five-game winning streak in the third set, Zverev was unable to maintain his momentum as Alcaraz regained control to secure the title.
The victory marks a historic moment for Alcaraz, who becomes the first man since Manolo Santana in 1961 to win the French Open after trailing by two sets to one in the semifinals against Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz’s aggressive baseline play, coupled with his diverse shot selection and unwavering determination, propelled him to victory in the final.
The absence of tennis giants Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer from the final marked a significant shift in the tournament’s landscape, highlighting the emergence of a new generation of talent led by Alcaraz and Zverev.
