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.
Carlos Alcaraz: Route to French Open final
R1: vs JJ Wolf, 6-1 6-2 6-1
R2: vs Jesper de Jong, 6-3 6-4 2-6 6-2
R3: vs Seb Korda (27), 6-4 7-6 6-3
R4: vs Felix Auger-Aliassime (21), 6-3 6-3 6-1
QFs: vs Stefanos Tsitsipas (9), 6-3 7-6 6-4
SFs: vs Jannik Sinner (2), 2-6 6-3 3-6 4-6 6-3
Watch every moment of Roland-Garros LIVE on Eurosport and discovery+
French Open: Coco Gauff and Katerina Siniakova win women’s doubles title!
Coco Gauff: “This is my third final so third time is a charm. Thank you Katerina for agreeing to play with me, it was very last minute. Congratulations to Sara and Jasmine for a great tournament and congratulations Jasmine for a great tournament in singles.
“Thank you for my team - it’s been a fun two weeks with you guys in singles and doubles. I know it’s been long and we’re all ready to go and have fun. Paris is my favourite city.”
French Open: Alexander Zverev on ‘journey’ to Roland Garros final
Alexander Zverev spoke about his “journey” to his second grand slam final before facing Carlos Alcaraz today, and it’s certainly been an interesting one.
From losing the US Open final to Dominic Thiem from two sets up in 2020, to breaking his ankle when facing Rafael Nadal in the French Open semi-finals in 2022, Zverev has taken the long road to get himself back to grand slam contention.
Can the German, who won the Rome title to mark him as one of the favourites for Roland Garros, now take the next step? The 27-year-old has long been tipped to step into the dominance left behind by Djokovic, Nadal and Federer, but has seen the likes of Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner overtake him in recent years.
“Going from basically the US Open final where I was two points away, to being rolled off in a wheelchair here two years ago. It’s all part of my journey,” he said.
“Look, I’m in the final. I haven’t won yet. But I just want to play my best tennis and give myself the best chance. If I am able to do that and if I am able to lift that trophy, it will mean the world to me.”
French Open: Coco Gauff and Katerina Siniakova win women’s doubles title!
Coco Gauff is a doubles champion! The American and Czech partner Katerina Siniakova have defeated Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani to win the French Open women’s doubles title. It’s Siniakova eighth doubles title at the grand slams.
More heartbreak for the Italian Paolini, who was beaten in the singles final by Iga Swiatek yesterday. Gauff, the US Open champion in singles, now adds a doubles title to the 20-year-old’s impressive resume.
Gauff usually plays doubles with American partner Jessica Pegula, but the World No 5 had to withdraw from the French Open due to injury. Gauff and Siniakova have proved to be a dream pairing. Siniakova hads a third French Open women’s titles.
French Open: Alexander Zverev settles abuse case with former girlfriend
On Friday, Alexander Zverev reached an out-of-court settlement with his former girlfriend, who accused the German tennis star of strangling her during an argument in May 2020.
According to reports in Germany, the settlement includes a monetary condition of 200,000 euros. The discontinuation of the trial does not constitute a finding of guilt or an admission of guilt, a statement from Zverev’s lawyers said.
“The process against Alexander Zverev was shelved today by the court with the agreement of the prosecutor’s office and Ms Brenda Patea,” a statement from the World No 4’s defence team said, hours before his French Open semi-final against Casper Ruud.
“Alexander Zverev agreed to this in order to shorten the process especially in the interest of the child they have together. Alexander Zverev remains innocent.”
According to the court, 150,000 euros of Zverev’s fine will go to the state with the other 50,000 euros going to charity, with both Zverev and Patea agreeing to stop the trial.
Zverev settles abuse case with ex-girlfriend before French Open semi
Zverev had denied the allegations made by his former girlfriend, Brenda Patea, who is also the mother of his three-year-old daughter
French Open: Coco Gauff and Katerina Siniakova win opening set of doubles final
The opening set of the women’s doubles final goes the way of Coco Gauff and Katerina Siniakova, who edge the first-set tiebreak against Jasmine Paolini and Sara Erranil. The American-Czech pair have the break of serve in the second set, too.
Alexander Zverev: Route to French Open final
R1: vs Rafael Nadal - 6-3 7-6 6-3
R2: vs David Goffin - 7-6 6-2 6-2
R3: vs Tallon Griekspoor (26) - 3-6 6-3 6-2 4-6 7-6
R4: vs Holger Rune (13) - 4-6 6-1 5-7 7-6 6-2
QFs: vs Alex de Minaur (11) - 6-4 7-6 6-4
SFs: vs Casper Ruud (7) - 2-6 6-2 6-4 6-2
Watch every moment of Roland-Garros LIVE on Eurosport and discovery+
The key to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s ‘weird’ French Open semi-final
As Carlos Alcaraz advanced into his first French Open final, the 21-year-old broke into a wide smile. He had beaten rival Jannik Sinner in five sets, overturning a rocky start to outlast the player who will be turning world No 1 on Monday. Alcaraz’s victory, 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3 in four hours and nine minutes, was not the classic that was expected between the two finest players of their generation, but it was a victory to display the vast amount of experience the Spaniard has already accumulated on these stages, acquiring the physical and mental tools to progress.
“You have to find the joy in suffering, that’s the key, even more on clay in Roland Garros,” Alcaraz grinned. “Long rallies, four-hour matches, five sets, you have to suffer. But you have to enjoy suffering.” He is now the youngest player in tennis history to reach grand slam finals on all three surfaces, after winning the US Open and Wimbledon. Unlike the 22-year-old Sinner, this was not his first time in a French Open semi-final. While Sinner struggled with cramps, stretching out his hand and arm due to “tension” in the third set, Alcaraz had been there before.
The key to Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s ‘weird’ French Open semi-final
Alcaraz prevailed 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3 to reach his first French Open and make tennis history at Roland Garros
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev’s grand slam records
Carlos Alcaraz made history by becoming the youngest player to reach grand slam finals on all three surfaces. The Spaniard defeated Casper Ruud to win the US Open at the age of 19 in 2022, before winning an epic Wimbledon final against Novak Djokovic the following summer. Alcaraz will be playing in his first French Open final following victory over Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals.
Zverev is also playing in his first French Open final. The German had lost three semi-finals in a row before earning revenge over Casper Ruud on Friday. While Zverev is an Olympic champion and two-time ATP Finals winner, he has never won a grand slam. The closest he came was at the US Open in 2020. Zverev became the first player to lost a US Open final from two sets up in the open era, as Dominic Thiem claimed his first grand slam title.
French Open: Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev head-to-head
Alexander Zverev holds the head-to-head over Carlos Alcaraz, and the German is the opponent the young Spaniard has faced the most often so far in his career with nine meetings.
Three of those have come to at the grand slams, with Zverev winning two of them when he was not considered the favourite. That includes wins over Alcaraz in the 2022 French Open semi-finals and 2024 Australian Open quarter-finals.
2024 - Indian Wells: Alcaraz 6-3 6-1
2024 - Australian Open: Zverev 6-1 6-3 6-7 6-4
2023 - ATP Finals: Zverev 6-7 6-3 6-4
2023 - US Open: Alcaraz 6-3 6-2 6-4
2023 - Madrid: Alcaraz 6-1 6-2
2022 - French Open: Zverev 6-4 6-4 4-6 7-6
2022 - Madrid: Alcaraz 6-3 6-1
2021 - Vienna: Zverev 6-3 6-3
2021: Acapulco: 6-3 6-1
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