Carlos Alcaraz captured his first French Open title after battling through a grueling five-set final against Alexander Zverev, winning 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2. In doing so, Alcaraz became the youngest man to win Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces: hard, grass, and clay.
Alcaraz, the third seed, overcame inconsistency and moments of doubt to fulfill his childhood dream on the very surface he grew up playing on in his hometown of Murcia, Spain. After clinching the match point with a forehand winner, the 21-year-old fell to his back in celebration, echoing the iconic victory celebrations of his hero, Rafael Nadal.
“I used to watch this tournament on television, dreaming of one day lifting the title,” said Alcaraz, who was awarded the trophy by six-time champion Bjorn Borg. “Now, here I am, it’s an incredible feeling.”
Zverev’s Long Wait Continues
For Alexander Zverev, the fourth seed, the defeat was another chapter in his quest for a Grand Slam title. Despite a solid performance and a 12-match winning streak on clay leading up to the final, the 27-year-old German fell short of his goal.
“I feel like I did everything I could,” Zverev reflected. “Carlos played fantastic, especially in the fourth and fifth sets. Sometimes, it’s just how it goes.”
Zverev, who has been predicted to win major titles since his teenage years, has now lost in two Grand Slam finals, including a dramatic five-set loss to Dominic Thiem at the 2020 US Open.
A Roller-Coaster Final
The final was a match of fluctuating momentum and quality, where nerves played a significant role. Both players struggled to find their best form consistently. Alcaraz, aiming to fulfill his boyhood dream, and Zverev, seeking to break his Grand Slam drought, showed signs of tension throughout the match.
An edgy start saw Zverev double-fault twice and lose his serve, but he quickly broke back as Alcaraz also struggled to find his rhythm. Alcaraz eventually settled, taking the first set with a confident cross-court forehand.
The second set saw a shift as Zverev’s depth and power in his returns overwhelmed Alcaraz, leading to a run of five consecutive games for the German. Alcaraz looked unsettled, and the set slipped away quickly.
In the pivotal third set, Alcaraz broke serve out of nowhere but couldn’t maintain his lead. Zverev fought back from 2-5 down to win the set 7-5, taking control of the match.
Alcaraz’s Resurgence
The fourth set marked another dramatic shift. Zverev’s level dropped, and Alcaraz, despite dealing with a leg injury that required treatment, dominated to force a fifth set.
Both players faced contrasting preparations for the tournament. Alcaraz, nursing a forearm injury, hadn’t played for a month before Roland Garros, while Zverev arrived with the momentum of a title win in Rome. Despite their differing paths, the final set was an unpredictable battle.
Sealing the Victory
In the decisive fifth set, fatigue and pressure took their toll on Zverev. A series of unforced errors, including a double fault, saw him lose serve for 2-1. Alcaraz then saved multiple break points, maintaining his lead with a mix of resilience and skill, highlighted by a stunning backhand cross-court winner to break for 5-2.
Zverev, visibly deflated, couldn’t mount another comeback as Alcaraz secured the victory. Reflecting on the fifth set, Zverev noted, “There were some unlucky moments. I thought I had a chance to break back, but things didn’t go my way.”
As Alcaraz lifted the French Open trophy, he not only realized a lifelong dream but also cemented his place as a rising star in men’s tennis, poised to add more titles to his growing legacy.
