Roland-Garros: Alcaraz, new Spanish master of Parisian clay

by Vincent Daheron

PARIS (Reuters) – The third player in the world Carlos Alcaraz won his first Roland-Garros and his third Grand Slam title on Sunday by beating the German Alexander Zverev after an indecisive final (6-3, 2-6 , 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 in 4h19).

After his victories at the US Open 2022 and Wimbledon 2023, at 21 years and one month he becomes the youngest player to win three different Grand Slam tournaments in the Open era (since 1968).

“When I came out of school, I turned on the television to watch this tournament and now I find myself here winning this trophy,” he said on court after receiving the Musketeers Cup from the Swede. Björn Borg, crowned six times at Roland-Garros.

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“I have dreamed of being in this place since I started playing tennis, since the age of 5, 6 years old. It’s really an incredible feeling,” he added in a conference of press.

“Third Grand Slam at 21, it’s incredible. It’s already an exceptional career,” congratulated Alexander Zverev. “You’re an incredible player, this isn’t the last time you’re going to win here.”

On a sunny Philippe-Chatrier court, Carlos Alcaraz overthrew Alexander Zverev who was leading two sets to one. The 27-year-old Hamburg native lost his second Major final on Sunday after that of the 2020 US Open.

After his winning match point, the Spaniard lay on his back on the ground, mirroring the celebration of his compatriot Rafael Nadal during each of his 14 titles on this center court.

While he could have mentally collapsed at the end of the third round which he lost by conceding five games in a row (from 5-2 in his favor to 5-7), Carlos Alcaraz on the contrary rebelled.

First in the following round which he dominated thanks to his quality of passing and cushioning then in the fifth and final set where he quickly took the upper hand, well supported by the majority of the Parisian public.

He showed himself to be conquering and serene despite the stakes of a first title at Roland-Garros while Alexander Zverev was often quicker to get annoyed, attracting a few whistles during protests from the referee.

“Mental strength plays an important role at these moments. I think that’s why I had a lot of success in the fifth set,” he analyzed at a press conference.

Before having his back against the wall, Carlos Alcaraz had started the game better by winning the first set with the help of his varied game but he began to make more mistakes than his opponent (56 direct errors against 41), worn, him, by his powerful service.

The student of Juan Carlos Ferrero, winner of the Parisian Grand Slam in 2003, presented himself convalescing at Roland-Garros after an injury to his right forearm which forced him to play only one preparation tournament on clay, at the Masters 1000 in Madrid, where he was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Andrey Rublev (4-6, 6-3, 6-2).

“In recent months, we have struggled a lot with injuries,” he admitted. “When I returned from Madrid, I didn’t feel well and the following weeks there were a lot of doubts.”

“This is the moment I am most proud of because everything I have done in recent months to be ready for this tournament…” he continued to the press.

During the fortnight, the number 3 seed gradually gained strength to dismiss the finalist of the 2021 edition Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals (6-3, 7-6, 6-4) then the future world number one Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals (2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3).

He erases the memory of his elimination last year at the gates of the final against the future winner Novak Djokovic (6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1), after having suffered from cramps during the meeting, tense by the stakes of his first semi-final at Roland-Garros.

(Reporting by Vincent Daheron, edited by Blandine Hénault)