Carlos Alcaraz (21) celebrated a significant milestone in his career with his maiden French Open triumph on Sunday. By defeating German Alexander Zverev 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, Alcaraz not only secured his first Roland Garros title but also became the youngest man to win Grand Slams on all three of the sport’s surfaces, having previously triumphed at Wimbledon and the US Open. This achievement places him in an elite group that includes legends like Mats Wilander, Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
Reflecting on his journey, Alcaraz highlighted the significance of this victory, especially given his recent struggles with a right forearm injury that limited his match play leading up to the tournament. “Winning the US Open when I reached number one for the first time was a dream come true,” Alcaraz said. “Wimbledon was also a great achievement, especially beating Djokovic in five sets. But lifting the Roland Garros trophy after everything I’ve been through the last month with injuries makes this the proudest moment of my career.”
Alcaraz’s path to the French Open was fraught with challenges. He had to withdraw from the Monte Carlo and Barcelona Opens due to his injury and faced an early exit in Madrid. He also skipped the Italian Open to focus on recovery. Despite these setbacks, he remained confident in his ability to perform at his best with minimal match play. “I consider myself a player who doesn’t need too many matches to get to 100%. Practicing with good players in Paris and gradually improving with each match helped me prepare well for the tournament,” he explained.
The victory in Paris was particularly sweet for Alcaraz, who plans to commemorate it with a tattoo of the Eiffel Tower and the date of his triumph. This follows his tradition of getting inked after major successes. “I have to find the time, but I’ll do it for sure. It’s going to be on the left ankle. Wimbledon was the right one. Here it’s going to be the left one, I think with the Eiffel Tower, with the date,” Alcaraz shared.
Alcaraz’s resilience and determination have solidified his place as one of tennis’s brightest young stars, and his latest Grand Slam victory is a testament to his growing legacy in the sport.
Source: ghmediahub
