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 Alexander Zverev*
Yes he can!
needs to work to save another break point but an ace, his first since the third set, takes him up to set point. Zverev lands one in the net and that’s that.
The French Open men’s final will be decided in a final set!
French Open: *Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 5-1 Alexander Zverev
Alcaraz had a chance to serve out the third set and messed it up. He looks to be on a similar course after a driving backhand from Zverev takes the German 0-30 up.
Zverev then misses only for Alcaraz to blaze a forehand into the net and leave him with two break points. The Spaniard saves one with a solid return wide to the backhand forcing Zverev to pump his effort wide down the line.
Another miss, this one trying to go across court with a forehand, brings Alcaraz back to deuce. Can he close out the set?
French Open: *Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 5-1 Alexander Zverev
Carlos Alcaraz has called for a medical timeout with the physio working on the left leg giving his a vigorous rub down.
The Spaniard jogs back onto court with renewed purpose and helps to force an error out of Alexander Zverev who floats a forehand wide. Then it’s Alcaraz’s turn to mishit one and give away a point, 15-15.
Oh wow! Both players trade blows and points before a lob from Alcaraz lands on the back of the court, just in play. Zverev sprints back for it then fizzes a backhand out of play.
Alcaraz fails to take advantage of his break point and the German forces his way to deuce. The deciding factor is a missed cross court backhand from Zverev which sets up another break point for Alcaraz who takes it this time and moves within one game of winning the fourth set.
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 4-1 Alexander Zverev*
This final and its momentum has swing on a pendulum repeatedly. At the start of this game it was firmly leaning towards Alcaraz but Zverev has wrestled it back!
It was a poor outing from the Spaniard who was outworked and out hit by his opponent who recovers a break. Alcaraz is still the heavy favourite to take the fourth set but Zverev now has a foothold.
French Open: *Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 4-0 Alexander Zverev
Alcaraz looks to have really turned up the heat and edges into the lead in the next game, this one being served up by Zverev. The Spaniard should take the next point too but is a little wayward with a backhand and just sends it out of play on the right side.
However, he makes full use of Zverev coming up to the net and laces a top spinner across court that dips on the German forcing him to miss the ball.
Zverev comes back at him though with a couple of powerful hits. A floaty return from Alcaraz provides plenty of time for Zverev to pick a spot and he drills a forehand down the line to draw level at 30-30.
A double fault sets Alcaraz up with a break point and he secures it with a brilliant backhand drop shot!
What a performance in this set from Alcaraz so far.
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 3-0 Alexander Zverev*
Carlos Alcaraz has woken up again. He’s won 11 of the last 14 points and moves to 40-0 with a blistering backhand across the court. A mistake from Zverev brings Alcaraz a hold to love and he moves three games ahead in the fourth set.
If he holds serve each time he’ll win the fourth and draw back level.
French Open: *Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 2-0 Alexander Zverev - BREAK!
Oh yes! After sending one too long to give Alcaraz the first points of his service game, Zverev switches up forehand and backhand play whilst, mainly, trying to keep the ball flat.
He makes Alcaraz run before coming up to the net and landing a winner volley. In the next rally, Alcaraz lunges to reach a low ball and manages to lob it over Zverev. The German can take on the smash but decides to leave it and the ball lands in play!
15-30.
Zverev is then unnerved as he drills a cross court forehand close to the sideline. The call of ‘out’ comes quite late but the umpire checks the court and agrees. Alcaraz has two break points.
He saves the first one as a backhand return from the Spaniard lands long. Zverev goes down the centre from a second serve next up and moves up to the net.
He volleys back at Alcaraz who sweeps to the right and whips a curling forehand around his opponent and lands it right on the line! He breaks!
That is a superb shot.
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 1-0 Alexander Zverev*
Alexander Zverev has the advantage in this final now. He’s only one set away from the title and knows that Carlos Alcaraz cannot mess up from here.
The Spaniard doesn’t. An incredibly backhand from him fizzes the ball over the top of the net to take him to a comfortable 40-15 lead in the opening game of the fourth.
Alcaraz is bouncing around and forces an error from Zverev to hold serve.
French Open: *Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 0-0 Alexander Zverev
French Open: *Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 5-7 Alexander Zverev - SET!
Alcaraz latches onto a drop shot to set up a break point but Zverev manages to save it in the next rally. He then comes up to the net, hits a fine backhand volley before winning the point with a brilliant smash.
His second attempt at closing out this set sees him miss his first serve once again. The next one goes to Alcaraz’s backhand and a long rally builds up.
Zverev starts to get the upper hand forces Alcaraz into a couple of loopy returns. He crunches a cross court forehand to Alcaraz’s right but the Spaniard can’t return the ball and the set goes to the German!
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