The new "king of clay" is Carlos Alcaraz - the young Spanish tennis player defeated Alexander Zverev 3:2 (6:3, 2:6, 5:7, 6:1, 6:2) in the Roland Garros final today and won the third career grand slam.
After the US Open in 2022 and Wimbledon last year, Alkaras also reached the trophy in the capital of France.
On the other hand, Zverev did not manage to reach the premier trophy even in the second final at the Grand Slam tournaments, and the first after four years.
Since 2015, only Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have won the Roland Garros title. And for the first time after 20 years, that is, since 2004, there was no one from the big three - Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer - in the final of the second Grand Slam.
Alkaras and Zverev started the match uncertainly, so at the start it was seen after a break on both sides. Then Alkaras relaxed, quickly reached another break, and then took the lead in sets.
From the middle of the second set, Zverev woke up. Alcarasa did not serve his backhand, so the German tennis player tied five games and equalized.
Zverev's series was also seen in the third set. Alkaras led 5:2, then at 5:3 he served for a new lead in the sets, but he was unable to resolve that part of the game in his favor - Zverev came back, made two breaks, tied five games and led 2:1 in the sets .
There was no excitement in the fourth set - the Spaniard took the rival's serve twice to lead 4:0, and then routinely equalized.
In the third game of the fifth set, Alkaras used a break point and took the lead 2:1. Then, in the next game, Zverev missed a big chance - he had four break points, but failed to return to the match. Alcaras maintained his lead and eventually reached his first clay-court Grand Slam.
Break without losing a point! Carlos Alcaras leads 5:2 and will serve for the title at Roland Garros.
Zverev had a break chance, but he missed another chance to get back into the match, Alkaras leads 4:2.
Zverev pulled through, saved the break point and reduced it to 3:2 in the deciding set.
Carlos Alkaras got away - Zverev had 0:40 and three break points, then Alkaras equalized, and the German had another break point, which he did not use.
Alkaras leads 3:1.
Desperate game by Zverev, two bad volleys, Alkaras breaks and leads 2:1.
And Alkaras is sure of his service game - 1:1.
Safe service game for Zverev at the start of the fifth set - 1:0.
Carlos Alkaras equalized in sets (2:2). Zverev had three break points in this game, but he failed to realize them.
The fifth set will decide the winner.
Carlos Alkaras has two breaks again, and he will serve to equalize in sets - 5:1.
Alkaras took a medical time out.
Zverev wakes up - the German returned one break and reduced it to 4:1.
Big 4:0 for the Spaniard in the fourth set.
Great safe service game by Alkaras - 3:0.
Now Carlos Alkaras has tied two games - the Spaniard broke at the start of the fourth set and took a 2:0 lead.
Alkaras breaks Zverev's streak, quickly wins his service game and leads 1:0 at the start of the fourth set.
At the end of the third set, Zverev made a big turnaround, reaching a 2:1 lead.
Carlos Alkaras had a break advantage in the third set, led 5:2, served to win the set, but lost that advantage. Zverev tied four games, made two breaks and completely reversed.
A total reversal of Zverev, who was losing 5:2, and now makes another break and leads 6:5.
The German will serve to win the third set.
Zverev is confident, without losing a point there is a tie.
We are still in the third set! Zverev returned the break and reduced it to 5:4.
Zverev had 0:30, Alkaras equalized, but in this game he did not manage to reach the third set.
Bonus video:
