Spain's Carlos Alcaraz (ATP 3), 21, won Roland Garros against Germany's Alexander Zverev (27) in a five-set match that was more mental than spectacular (6-3/2-6/5-7/6-1/6-2) on Sunday night in Paris, taking over from one of his idols, Rafael Nadal. Alcaraz made history as the youngest player to capture Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces.
The match, marked by ups and downs, saw the young prodigy from El Palmar win his third Grand Slam title, his first in the French Open after the US Open (2022) and Wimbledon (2023). For Zverev, it is his second loss in a grand slam final after the US Open in 2020.
This victory has the flavour of a new era beginning. Even before it began, this year's Roland Garros was shaping up to be a special one, with no clear favourites emerging for the first time in 20 years.
With only two previous winners present, Nadal on one side, who at 38 was returning from injury, and Djokovic on the other, 37, who had not won a Grand Slam since his title in the French Open last year, the opportunity to see a player who had not won the title before had probably never been greater.
A first Roland-Garros title. A third Grand Slam title. 21 years old.
How Carlos Alcaraz made history as the youngest player to capture Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces 👇 — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 9, 2024
Ending 20 years of hegemony
And with Alcaraz, that is what has happened. The young Spanish put an end to two decades of hegemony by a handful of players. From 2005 to 2023, only four players have lifted the Musketeers' Trophy: Rafael Nadal (14); Novak Djokovic (3); Roger Federer (1); and Stanislas Wawrinka (1).
With pressure on his shoulders, the young Spaniard prevailed against a combative Zverev and is perhaps emerging as a likely successor to King Nadal. Despite a final in five sets and over four hours of play, the pressure was felt on both sides of the court, marked by highs and lows. Finally, although he did not display his best tennis, it was Alcaraz who emerged victorious after trailing two sets to one against Zverev.
"Honestly, at the end of the third set, I had a lot of doubts, I won’t lie, because I felt like my shots were not hurting Sascha [Zverev]. He was dominating the match with his serve and the weight of his topspin shots. It was difficult for me. I don't know if it was because I was nervous," he admitted to Eurosport after his triumph. But mentally, he never lost focus in his final.
