Alcaraz outlasts Zverev to win third Grand Slam title

Carlos Alcaraz extended Spanish superiority at Roland Garros as he won the Paris title for the first time on Sunday with a 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Alexander Zverev in the final.

The final was up and down throughout its four-hour, 20-minute length, with the 21-year-old winner now the youngest to win Grand Slam an all three surface – clay (Paris), grass (Wimbledon) and hardcourt (US Open.

Zverev was disappointed at the end as Alcaraz sent a sizzling winner out of reach on his first match point.

The Spaniard ended with 52 winners and 56 unforced errors. Zverev was only able to convert on six of his 23 break chances; Alcaraz profited on nine of his 16. 

He now owns two of the four current titles at the major but will be starting his Wimbledon title defence in a fortnight in London.

“My team has done incredible work over the last month,” Alcaraz said of his struggle with a forearm injury.

“It did not feel so good before coming here. I did not train so much.

“But everyone on my team was giving their heart to help me improve as a player and a person. I call them a team but they are a family.

“And my (real) family is here supporting me, I remember as a little kid coming home from school to turn on the TV and watch this tournament.

“I’m now living it with this trophy in front of me.”

Alcaraz won the first final between first-time Paris finalist since 2005 when Nadal played Mariano Puerta.

Alcaraz and Nadal are the only players to lift the Roland Garros title before turning 22 years of age since 2000 (Nadal did it in 2005, 2006 and 2007).

Zverev played and lost his second career Grand Slam final after the 2020 US Open, which he lost to Dominic Thiem from two sets up.

His loss to Alcaraz ended a 12-match win streak on clay for last month’s Rome champion; no German has ever won Paris in the Open era.

Zverev began with a pair of double faults in the first game, dropping serve three times in a chaotic 46-minute opening set.

Alcaraz gave up a 40-0 lead to start the second set and was forced to save a trio of break points before holding for 1-0 in an 11-minute game.

Zverev squared the match as he claimed the second set with two breaks of serve, but was unable to capitalise as Alcaraz took a 4-2 lead in the third but lost his last two seres to drop to 1-2 on sets.

The Spaniard, who was presented the trophy by Bjorn Borg, started his comeback by winning the fourth set and polished off victory in the fifth, following in the footsteps of countryman Rafael Nadal, 14-times champion here..

“Carlos is amazing,” Zverev said. “Third Grand Slam title, 21 years old… you have an amazing career already, an incredible achievement.

“I wish I could say I’m happy for you – but not today.

“I’ve had along journey since (2022 semi-final ankle injury) on this court. 

“We had a close match today, but not enough for me,” said the four-time paris semi-finalist.