Carlos Alcaraz triumphs at Roland Garros: Zverev knocked out in fifth set

Roland Garros: Carlos Alcaraz è the new champion

Carlos Alcaraz è the new Roland Garros champion. The world number three beat German Alexander Zverev, number four in the ATP rankings, in five sets with a final score of 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2 after four hours and nineteen minutes of play. This is the third seal in a Grand Slam for the Spaniard, following his successes at Wimbledon (2023) and the Us Open (2022).

Zverev starts off contracted, commits two double faults and loses serve in the opening set. Alcaraz returns the favor, in turn surrendering the serve. However, at 2-2 the Spaniard gets a new break lead and this time confirms it, going up 4-2. The world number three then seals the partial at 6-3 final with a winning forehand cross court that is worth the third break of the set.

In the second set Alcaraz dropped in intensity while Zverev became more aggressive, thanks in part to an excellent first ball percentage. At 2-2 the German gets the break lead, confirms it and repeats it in the seventh game, closing the partial 6-2 in his favor, stringing four consecutive games.

In the third set, the balance is broken in the sixth game: after 14 points in a row on serve, Zverev, surprisingly, suffers the break at zero and Alcaraz thanks, taking a 5-2 lead, however, having to cancel three counter-break balls. Here forò comes the German’s angry reaction that turns everything around, winning 5 consecutive games and taking a set ahead.

In the fourth set Alcaraz finds new energy and signs the break in the second game with a great forehand pass. The Spaniard is back in command, while the German seems a bit in trouble: the world number three quickly climbs to 4-0 and closes quickly 6-1, sending everything back to the fifth and decisive set.

In the last partial, Zverev surrendered himself to Alcaraz in the third game with two unfortunate volleys and a double fault. The German, however, could immediately get back into the partial but the Spaniard nullified four break points, three of which were consecutive, and went up 3-1. Alcaraz also gets the break in the seventh game and files the case with the final 6-2 on the first useful match point.

With this success Alcaraz rises to three Grand Slam titles. The Spaniard, moreover, at 21 years and 1 month, è also the youngest tennis player to have won three majors on three different surfaces.