With Carlos Alcaraz clinching his maiden French Open title, the tennis world is witnessing the altering of the guard and a brand new ‘King of Clay’.
It is poetically acceptable that the person who takes the throne spent his youth operating house to look at his idol, compatriot and former chief of the pink filth, Rafael Nadal, carry the trophy.
When Alcaraz dispatched a valiant Alexander Zverev 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2 on courtroom Phillipe Chatrier the Spaniard, nonetheless simply 21, made historical past because the youngest man to win Grand Slams on all three of the game’s surfaces following his Wimbledon and US Open titles.
Alcaraz had come into the event with doubts over his health. He had missed the Italian Open on account of an harm he sustained to his proper forearm, arrived in Paris with barely any matches underneath his belt and noticed out the French Open with an arm sleeve. The pre-tournament uncertainties added to his achievement.
“This is the moment I’m really proud about,” Alcaraz mentioned. “Successful the US Open after I reached for the primary time the No 1 [ranking], was one thing that I dreamt about since I began enjoying tennis. So it was fairly particular.
“The way I won Wimbledon, beating Djokovic in five sets, has been a great achievement for me. Right now, lifting the Roland Garros trophy, knowing everything I’ve been through the last month with the injuries, is the proudest one.”
Alcaraz mentioned himself that his “game suits every surface.” He first discovered the game on clay, he finds himself most snug on exhausting courts – he sought to excel there as a result of that is what is used at most tournaments – and his always-look-to-attack model is an ideal match for grass, as his win over seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic in final yr’s ultimate on the All England Membership proved. Alcaraz’s title defence there begins on July 1.
After all, he mentioned, he works on his defence. And his drop pictures and volleys are useful instruments, as Zverev and so many others can bear rueful witness to.
However Alcaraz’s underlying precept is that this: “My main goal is being aggressive, as much as I can.” He plied his aggression on centre courtroom at Roland Garros, underneath a quote from Garros – an aviation trailblazer – that reads: “Victory belongs to the most tenacious.”
Within the semi-finals in Paris, he beat Jannik Sinner – who changed the injured Djokovic at No 1 within the rankings – and got here again from a two-sets-to-one deficit by grabbing eight of the final 11 video games in a four-hour, nine-minute match. The ultimate noticed Alcaraz put on down Zverev, once more erasing a 2-1 deficit in units, this time by rolling by way of 12 of the final 15 video games in a four-hour, 19-minute match.
Tennis has a brand new hero
The affect of the “big three” is waning. Nadal fell to eventual finalist Zverev; regardless of Djokovic’s efforts, harm compelled his withdrawal; and Roger Federer retired in 2022. A gaping gap has been left within the centre of the game and none appear extra ready to fill it than Alcaraz.
In clinching his third Grand Slam, he adopted the footsteps of his childhood hero Nadal who was dubbed the ‘King of Clay’ for his 14 French Open championships throughout his illustrious profession. He could have 13 extra championships to say to equal Nadal, however the teenager has time – and no little capacity – on his aspect.
Djokovic holds the file for the best variety of males’s Grand Slam singles titles with 24, whereas Nadal sits subsequent on 22 and Federer two additional again on 20. Nevertheless, Djokovic gained his first main on the 2008 Australian Open when he was 20, whereas Federer did so at Wimbledon in 2003 aged 21. Alcaraz picked up his first aged 19 on the US Open, and the world has been at his toes ever since.
The Spaniard is simply an eighth of the best way in the direction of Djokovic’s haul, however that has not stopped him dreaming of attaining the feat.
“I hope so,” Alcaraz mentioned when requested whether or not he might finally match Djokovic’s file tally.
“I talked to coach Juan Carlos Ferrero a few days ago. Before the final, he told me how I’m going to fight for a third Grand Slam title ‘with everything you have been through, and you know how difficult winning a Grand Slam is – and Djokovic has 24!’ So it is unbelievable.
“Right now I can’t think about it. I just want to keep going and let’s see how many I’m going to take at the end of my career.
“Hopefully I will attain the 24, however proper now I’ll get pleasure from my third one, and let’s examine sooner or later.”
What subsequent for Alcaraz?
Alcaraz can be eyeing a return to the No 1 rating having overwhelmed the recently-installed No 1 Sinner within the semi-final, and there’s no questioning his ambitions to reclaim the spot he held in 2022.
At 3-0 in Grand Slam finals, we are able to solely watch in awe at what Alcaraz can obtain subsequent. No matter lies within the younger man’s future, he’ll take to it together with his infectious beaming smile that continues to attract in assist.
What’s developing on Sky Sports activities Tennis?
Within the run-up to the third Grand Slam of 2024 – Wimbledon – you may watch all the largest tennis stars in motion dwell on Sky Sports activities as they compete throughout the grass-court season.
- Stuttgart Open (ATP 250 with Andy Murray in motion) – June 10-16
- Rosmalen Open (ATP/WTA 250) – June 10-16
- Berlin Open (WTA 500) – June 17-23
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