French Open LIVE: Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Zverev result and reaction from five-set thriller in men’s final
Alcaraz fought from two sets to one down to become the first player in men’s tennis history to win his first three grand slam titles on different surfaces
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Alexander Zverev to win the French Open for the first time and lift a third grand slam title at the age of just 21. The Spaniard became the youngest player in tennis history to win grand slam titles on all three surfaces and defeated the German fourth seed in an epic five-set thriller at Roland Garros, battling from behind to win 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2 in four hours and 19 minutes.
In what was the first French Open men’s final without either Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer since 2004, Alcaraz held his nerve to defy defeat and he produced a stunning series of passing shots in his comeback. The third seed took a medical timeout in the fourth set but prevailed to extend his perfect record in grand slam finals to three wins from his first three appearances.
Alcaraz, who had previously won the US Open and Wimbledon, is now an Australian Open title away from completing the career grand slam. Meanwhile, Zverev missed the chance to win his first grand slam title, with the 27-year-old losing the US Open final from two sets up against Dominic Thiem in 2020. The German was a set from glory before Alcaraz produced a stunning escape to win the title.
Follow all the latest tennis scores and results from the final day at the French Open below.
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 4-2 Alexander Zverev*
Will Carlos Alcaraz go after Alexander Zverev and try to break again?
Yes. By the looks of the opening two rallies which both go the way of the Spaniard. He punishes every forehand that he gets and outpowers the German to move 0-30 up.
Oh wow! Zverev comes up to the net and meets the ball on the volley. Alcaraz darts across the court and whips a backhand, the ball clips the tape and drops in play!
Three break points to come.
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 4-2 Alexander Zverev*
Zverev sets himself up with a break point but Alcaraz serves and volleys next up to bring him back to deuce. Alcaraz puts one too long to give up a break point but Zverev hits the net.
The Spaniard goes up to advantage and wins the game as Zverev slices a forehand into the net again.
French Open: *Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 3-2 Alexander Zverev
Alcaraz doesn’t unleash fully on a smash but Zverev’s return goes long. The Spaniard then puts down and error of his own with a wild forehand.
Two smash winners, one for each player, bring the game up to 30-30. Alcaraz trying to hold, Zverev desperately searching for a break.
The Spaniard takes the next point with an accurate serve and forehand follow up. But, a miscued backhand lands in the net and Zverev gets to deuce.
French Open: *Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 3-2 Alexander Zverev
Zverev holds! He saves another break point and flies through the next two points to keep his hopes of lifting the trophy going.
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 3-1 Alexander Zverev*
The only thing Zverev can do now is hold his own serve. He needs to keep chipping away at this set and hopefully edge the momentum his way.
From 40-15 an few errors and another double fault bring the game to deuce before Alcaraz nails a passing winner to set up another break point.
This could be the deciding rally of the final. Zverev serves out wide but Alcaraz gets back the return only for the German to land an acute backhand across court. Back to deuce.
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 3-1 Alexander Zverev*
What a rally! Alexander Zverev comes up to the net early to try and close out the rally but never takes on a proper smash. Instead he looks to work Alcaraz around the court but the Spaniard repeatedly tracks down the ball. Eventually Zverev gets the winner but his lead doesn’t last long as Alcaraz serves out wide and forces an error from the German.
Bang! Zverev looks to dominate but Alcaraz has other ideas. He’s off balance but decides to come down the line with a brilliant backhand that brings him close to holding.
He does hold! From 0-40 down, the Spaniard manages to move ahead in the set and he completes the break of serve.
French Open: *Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 2-1 Alexander Zverev
Zverev’s last service was full of mistakes and Alcaraz has started his own service game with a couple of errors too. An attempted drop shot clips the tape and doesn’t drop moving his opponent 0-30 ahead.
Wow. Alcaraz wrestles his way into a winning position and has the simplest of forehand winners to get on the board. Instead his pushes it wide and leaves Zverev with three break points.
Alcaraz saves one with a fine forehand winner. A disputed second serve is called in which annoys Zverev who is feeling the pressure. He’ll be more aggrieved after sending a backhand out of play.
Alcaraz then finds the baseline and the game goes to deuce! What defence.
French Open: *Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 2-1 Alexander Zverev - BREAK!
Alexander Zverev is under a lot of pressure. A couple of errors from the German and a double fault leave the Spaniard with three break points.
He punts one of them too long but then claims the break. Zverev then pings one over the back and gifts the break to his opponent. Alcaraz draws first blood in the final set. Can he hold serve now to complete the break?
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 1-1 Alexander Zverev*
Oh my! Neither man is holding back here and both are taking on difficult shots. Zverev comes up to the net and is met with a dipping forehand. He attempts to volley across court but gets it wrong and spoons the ball out of play.
Another mistake from the German gives Alcaraz two attempts to close out the game and he misses the first one. A long, long rally gets both men dancing around the court before setting up an opportunity for a cross court forehand, Alcaraz puts it into the net.
The next attempt is better, he serves wide and Zverev returns into the net.
French Open: *Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 0-1 Alexander Zverev
This match has been going on for three hours and 26 minutes already and will be decided in this fifth set. Alexander Zverev has the opening serve and will want to start well having only won on game in the previous set.
He takes the first point with a blazing backhand winner before flicking over a drop shot volley. Carlos Alcaraz sprints up the court and gets to the ball but doesn’t have the space to get over the return.
Perhaps there’s a sign of nerves as Zverev double faults but his next effort is perfect out wide to Alcaraz’s backhand. The German completes his hold with a smash winner.
Over to Alcaraz.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments