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 2-1 Alexander Zverev*
Alcaraz roars behind the forehand winner hit down the line! The Spaniard emerges from a tricky game that coughed up another double fault, but that forehand winner was more like it.
Alcaraz yells out as he returns to his chair.
French Open: *Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 1-1 Alexander Zverev
Zverev is so solid from the baseline right now, to add to that big first serve and strike from inside the line. He holds the love and is putting together a huge run of points.
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 1-0 Alexander Zverev*
Alcaraz led 2-1 in the second set before Zverev won five games in a row to level the match: the Spaniard needs a hold of serve here.
And he gets one, behind a lovely drop shot.
French Open: *Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 Alexander Zverev - SET!
Zverev’s serve was so much better in the second set, with the German winning over 80 per cent of his first serve points, serving at over 80 per cent too.
Alcaraz couldn’t generate a break point there, while Zverev gave away just four unforced errors. A brilliant set from the German.
The French Open finals in 2022 and 2023 were won in straight-sets, by Nadal and Djokovic, both against Casper Ruud, but we could be going the distance here.
French Open: *Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-6 Alexander Zverev - SET!
Sublime serving from Zverev. His thumps an ace out wide and gets to 40-0, so three set points.
Alcaraz chips the reply and Zverev clips the forehand winner. How this has turned. We’re a set all in the French Open final.
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-5 Alexander Zverev*
This feels like the best level of the match so far. Alcaraz thumps an ace out wide before Zverev lands a huge forehand winner down the line.
Zverev is alive in every rally now. He takes over from the baseline and pushes Alcaraz wide behind the forehand. The Spaniard nets. It’s gone from 40-15 to deuce.
Alcaraz with the backhand dropshot into the net! It’s another break point for Zverev!
Alcaraz saves: finding the forehand strike and then putting away the overhead, but it’s brutal from Zverev as he jumps on the forehand into the corner.
Another break point: and Alcaraz nets! Zverev gets the double break and this is a different match now!
French Open: *Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-4 Alexander Zverev
So good from Alcaraz! The Spaniard gets a chance to strike on the forehand as Zverev’s ball kicks off the netcord, but then moves in wonderfully on 15-15 to send a forehand winner past the German.
Zverev lands a brilliant serve out wide, leaving Alcaraz so far from the baseline to do anything with the backhand. Zverev repeats the trick on the other side.
Deuce: Alcaraz works himself inside on the forehand and strikes down the line. Alcaraz finds a brilliant backhand down the line, and then a wonderful pick-up volley.
But Zverev’s reply is even better! What a shot from Zverev, reaching and producing a stunning angle! Alcaraz nets and that’s an impressive hold.
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-3 Alexander Zverev* - BREAK!
Alcaraz finds himself in a hole on 0-30 and although he finds a stunning drop shot, a forehand into the net hands Zverev a look at two break points at 15-40.
Alcaraz accelerates behind the backhand, while a huge gust kicks up a cloud of dust from the clay and puts Zverev off his backhand strike. 30-40.
Alcaraz send a wild forehand out of the court and Zverev breaks to lead the second set, converting on the fifth break point of the second set!
French Open: *Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-2 Alexander Zverev
It looks like this second set could go the distance, as we’re 24 minutes played after four games. Zverev speeds things along with a love hold - more signs that his serve is improving.
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz 6-3 2-1 Alexander Zverev*
A bruising rally from the baseline, the longest of the match at 21 shots, is finished wonderfully by Alcaraz with the forehand winner onto the line.
Zverev nets on the forehand return and turns to his box, venting in frustration. A good hold from Alcaraz.
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