Carlos Alcaraz Wins 1st French Open In Grueling 5-Set Epic As The ...

TOPSHOT - Spain's Carlos Alcaraz eyes the ball during his men's singles final match against ... [+] Germany's Alexander Zverev on Court Philippe-Chatrier on day fifteen of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros Complex in Paris on June 9, 2024. (Photo by Alain JOCARD / AFP) (Photo by ALAIN JOCARD/AFP via Getty Images)

As a young boy growing up in Spain, Carlos Alcaraz used to run home after school to watch Rafael Nadal and other Spanish tennis champions compete for Roland Garros titles.

As a 13-year-old in 2016, Alcaraz posed for a picture with his idol Nadal in Paris.

"I have a special feeling to this tournament because I remember when I finished school, I’m running to my home just to put the TV on and watch the matches here in the French Open,” Alcaraz said before the final. “I watched a lot of matches, of course Rafa Nadal dominating this tournament for 14, 15 years. It’s something unbelievable.

“And I wanted to put my name on that list of the Spanish players who won this tournament. Not only Rafa, but Ferrero, Moya, Costa, a lot of Spanish legends that won this tournament.”

Now he has joined that group.

The 21-year-old Spanish tennis sensation and No. 3 seed defeated No. 4 Alexander Zverev, 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, in 4 hours, 19 minutes to capture his first French Open title and his third major crown. His semifinal victory over new world No. 1 Jannik Sinner also took five sets.

He became the youngest man to win a major on all three surfaces. If Alcaraz wins the Australian Open in 2025, ‘26, or ‘27, he would become the youngest man ever to win all four majors. Nadal currently holds the record at 24 years old.

Alcaraz was the betting favorite entering the tournament and became a greater favorite when Novak Djokovic withdrew ahead of his quarterfinal with a knee injury that required surgery. Alcaraz tied Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka among active players with three majors. Djokovic is the all-time men’s leader with 24 and Nadal owns 22. Alcaraz owns more majors than every player born in the 1990s.

“He’s better than Federer, Nadal and Djokovic at 21,” John McEnroe told Eurosport.

Zverev, who beat Nadal in the first round and survived two five-setters, fell to 0-2 in major finals after losing the 2020 U.S. Open final to Dominic Thiem. He was bidding to become the first German man to win a Slam since Boris Becker at the 1996 Australian Open.

“You’ve got to die once or twice in order to lift the trophy,” Becker told EuroSport before the final. “I think he’s got a good shot.”

A Spaniard has now won 20 of the last 32 Roland Garros titles. Seven Spanish men have won a total of 21 French Opens in the Open Era.

It also marked the 57th straight Grand Slam crown won by a European man; they have combined to win 78 of the last 79 majors.

This was the first French Open final without Nadal, Federer or Djokovic since 2004.

In the decisive fifth set, Alcaraz earned a break for 2-1 when Zverev played a loose game with two mistakes at net, a double fault and a backhand long on break point.

In an epic game that last 11 minutes, 9 seconds, Alcaraz came from 0-40 down and saved four breaks points to hold for 3-1.

With Zverev serving at 2-4, Alcaraz hit an incredible one-handed backhand pass that caused Zverev to look back in disbelief. The point brought the German to 0-40 down, and Alcaraz then earned the break for 5-2 with a forehand winner up the line.

Alcaraz closed it out on his serve with a crosscourt forehand winner and then collapsed on the court to celebrate.

PARIS, FRANCE - June 09: Carlos Alcaraz of Spain loses his racquet as he dives unsuccessfully to ... [+] prevent a break point in the third set during his match against Alexander Zverev of Germany on Court Philippe-Chatrier during the Mens Singles Final at the 2024 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on June 9th, 2024, in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Zverev opened the match with back-to-back double-faults and was broken when Alcaraz smacked a forehand winner into the open court.

After getting broken back, Alcaraz broke for 3-2 with a winner that Zverev hit into the net.

Alcaraz closed out the first set with a forehand crosscourt winner that Zverev could not retrieve.

But Zverev broke the Spaniard several times in the second set and closed it out on his serve with a forehand winner into the open court.

In the third set, Alcaraz broke at love for 4-2 when the German shanked a backhand return wide. Alcaraz pumped his fist to his box.

The Spaniard then fought off break points to hold for 5-2 with a drop shot winner that Zverev back-handed into the net.

Germany's Alexander Zverev reacts during his men's singles final match against Spain's Carlos ... [+] Alcaraz on Court Philippe-Chatrier on day fifteen of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros Complex in Paris on June 9, 2024. (Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP) (Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images)

But the German fought back and won five straight games, sealing the third set with an angled forehand winner that Alcaraz returned into the net.

In the fourth, Alcaraz broke for a 2-0 lead with a brilliant running forehand pass. He earned a double-break for 4-0 with a backhand drop shot and again pumped his fist.

Up 4-1 in the fourth, Alcaraz took a medical timeout and received treatment on his left leg from the ATP trainer. The doctor also visited with him.

Alcaraz closed out the first set with a hold when Zverev hit a weak backhand drop shot into the shot.