By Tony Fairbairn
- Carlos Alcaraz [3] def Alexander Zverev [4] 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2
- Carlos Alcaraz stated it was his childhood dream to win Roland Garros after he overcame Alexander Zverev in a five set thriller.
PARIS, FRANCE – Carlos Alcaraz has achieved his childhood dream after claiming his maiden Roland Garros title with a five set victory over Alexander Zverev.
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Carlos Alcaraz [3] def Alexander Zverev [4] 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2
Carlos Alcaraz is the Roland Garros champion for the first time in his career after a five set win over Alexander Zverev. The Spaniard has also won a third Grand Slam title on three different surfaces as he edges nearer to a career Grand Slam. The match itself was low on consistent quality but full of drama with both players going for their maiden Roland Garros title.
It was the perfect start for Alcaraz who found his range on return early on before the nerves of a Grand Slam final took over as he was immediately broken back by the persistent German. Not only was Zverev aiming for a first Roland Garros title, the world number four was looking for a first Grand Slam title as the haunted ghost of New York had been hanging over him for the last four years. There was signs of that in the fifth game as Alcaraz went on the attack, breaking for a 3-2 lead.
Despite Zverev winning the longer rallies and dominating the physical battle, Alcaraz was always one step ahead as the forehand continued to do damage. A mix of spin and power was the key to Alcaraz claiming the opening set as the Spaniard broke for a third time in the set in the ninth game.
The rollercoaster element of this match was only just beginning as Zverev became more aggressive in the second set, creating three break points in the opening game. Although the German was unable to break through, Zverev was the more clinical on return in the second set as some tactical adjustments saw him benefit from Alcaraz’s dip in form.
A break in the fifth game was followed by some Alcaraz errors and nerves as the Spaniard struggled to adapt to Zverev’s consistent aggression. The returning pressure from Zverev took its toll as a double fault from Alcaraz gave the world number four the chance to serve for the second set. The German made no mistake as he held to love to level the match at one set all.
After the second set, Alcaraz argued about the lack of actual clay on the court as he insisted the court was more of a hard court in some areas. However, this issue seemed to motivate Alcaraz to perform better in the third set as he went toe-to-toe with Zverev as both players were playing their best tennis at the start of the set. The key difference was that Alcaraz knew when to go for the kill as he broke to love for a 4-2 lead and seized control with a 5-2 lead as he won a crucial game, saving three break points.
There was a consensus that Alcaraz was cruising towards a two sets to one lead but Zverev’s level raised and some poor errors from the Spaniard allowed the German back into the match. A really poor last five games cost Alcaraz dearly as he couldn’t finish the set off and the German grinded his way to five games in a row with some efficient all-court play.
Now Zverev had a two sets to one lead but the German has been here before as mentioned before in New York. That was the mental side of things but it was the physical fatigue that would cost Zverev in the fourth set as playing 19 hours of tennis prior to the final was hardly ideal. The world number three took advantage as he opened up a 4-0 lead before Zverev retaliated by gaining one of the breaks back.
It wasn’t just Zverev who was feeling the fatigue as Alcaraz took a medical time-out at this point on a thigh injury. The slight pause disrupted Zverev’s momentum as Alcaraz tested the German’s stamina and once again broke for a 5-1 lead. This time Alcaraz made no mistake to consolidate as he saved three break points from Zverev to take this into a dramatic fifth set.
The drama was only just beginning as a sensational start to the deciding set allowed Alcaraz to break for a 2-1 lead. However back came Zverev as the German created four break points which the fourth seed failed to take and felt robbed when a clear serve went out from Alcaraz but was ruled in.
Refusing to back down, Zverev pushed Alcaraz all the way as he kept narrowing the gap forcing Alcaraz into outstanding shot-making. After saving break point to hold for a 4-2 lead, Alcaraz produced an outstanding one-handed backhand flick passing shot to leave Zverev stunned as he broke to love for a 5-2 lead.
There was no signs of nerves as Alcaraz displayed maturity beyond his years to close out the match and seal a third Grand Slam title as well as a first title in Paris.
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Alcaraz achieves childhood dream in Paris
A first Roland Garros title for Alcaraz as he has now won a Grand Slam title on three different surfaces.
The Spaniard will now overtake Novak Djokovic as world number two as a results of Alcaraz’s incredible run to the title.
However the prospect of winning Roland Garros is something much more important and Alcaraz described it as a dream come true to win the title in Paris.
“[It is] something that I dreamed about being in this position since I started playing tennis, since I was five, six years old. So it’s a great, great feeling,” Alcaraz told the ATP website.
“Winning a Grand Slam is always special. Winning your first in every Grand Slam is always super special. But in Roland Garros knowing all the Spanish players who have won this tournament and being able to put my name on that amazing list is something unbelievable.”
Alcaraz is now the youngest ever player to win Grand Slam titles on three different surfaces as his rise to being mentioned amongst the greats continues.
Speaking after the match Alcaraz detailed what makes him so special on each surface and how he’s adapted his game over the last couple of years.
“I grew up playing on clay court, but most tournaments of the Tour it is on hard court. So I had to practise more on hard court, doing the preseason on hard court. So I started to feel more comfortable moving, hitting my shots playing on hard court, but I think my game suits very well on every surface because I practice it,” Alcaraz explained to the ATP website.
“With drop shots, my volley, I wanted to develop my style of being aggressive all the time. Practising the defence and all that stuff, but my main goal is being aggressive as much as I can. So I think on grass it is pretty well or I have to do it on grass almost every time, but in all surfaces, I think it’s a pretty good thing.”
Ahead of Roland Garros there were doubts over Alcaraz’s fitness as he struggled with an arm injury in the build-up to Paris.
However Alcaraz was able to get himself fit in time in order to achieve his childhood dream and the Spaniard credited his team after the contest.
“I said before the tournament, I consider myself a player who doesn’t need too many matches on my back just to get at 100 per cent,” Alcaraz stated to the ATP website.
“I had a really good week here in Paris, practising with good players. I felt really well playing sets, moving, hitting my shots before the tournament began. Obviously every match that I have played, I was getting better and better.
“All the work that I put every day before coming here and every day here has been really good work with my team that helped me to get 100 per cent physically, mentally, and hitting good shots and putting a good level on the court. So I think that’s why I performed at my best at the end of the tournament.”
Now Alcaraz will prepare for his Wimbledon title defence next month but first Alcaraz will enjoy his incredible run to a third Grand Slam title.
Zverev describes Alcaraz as an ‘animal’
As for Zverev, the German lost a second Grand Slam final from a winning position following his defeat to Dominic Thiem at the US Open in 2020.
However after the match Zverev stated that the two circumstances are different and in 2020 he gave the match away whereas today his opponent was simply the better player.
“I felt like this Grand Slam final I did everything I could,” Zverev told the ATP website.
“At the US Open I kind of gave it away myself. It’s a bit different. Of course, look, I felt from the tennis level I was playing decent and he was playing decent for three sets. Then I dropped a lot.”
The German played 19 hours on his way to the final and that clearly paid a part as he was outclassed by the Spaniard in the final two sets.
Speaking after the match Zverev described Alcaraz as an ‘animal’ and admitted he needs to have a review into his physical fitness as he targets Grand Slam success in the future.
“We’re both physically strong, but he’s a beast. He’s an animal, for sure,” Zverev told the ATP website.
“The intensity he plays tennis at is different to other people. He can do so many different things. I think he changed his tactic a lot in the fifth set, started to play a lot higher, a lot deeper for me to not create as much power. Especially with the shadows on the court, it was slower again. But he’s a fantastic player, and physically he’s fantastic.
“So I have to look at myself and I have to look at the team that I have and see what I can do to become the same level. I lost focus, and on my serve I didn’t get the power from my legs anymore, which is weird, because normally I do not get tired. I don’t cramp, I don’t get tired normally.
“But again, against Carlos it’s a different intensity, so maybe that was the case a bit. Yeah, maybe I have to look at my preparation. Maybe I have to look at how I do things on a physical base as well.”
Zverev will now turn his attention to the grass court season where he is scheduled to play in Stuttgart next week although after his Roland Garros run it’s plausible that he could withdraw from the event.
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