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Carlos Alcaraz outlasts Alexander Zverev for first French Open title

Carlos Alcaraz outlasted Alexander Zverev in five sets to win his first French Open and his third Grand Slam title at age 21.

Alcaraz prevailed 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, 1-6, 6-2 to become the youngest French Open men’s champion since 2007 when fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal won the third of his record 14 titles at Roland Garros.

Alcaraz has now won a Slam on all three surfaces — clay in Paris, plus on the hard courts at the U.S. Open in 2022 and the grass lawns of Wimbledon in 2023.

He supplanted Andre Agassi as the youngest man to make a Slam final on all three surfaces in the professional era (since 1968).

Of his three Slams, Alcaraz said he is probably most proud of this French Open after missing a lead-in tournament due to a forearm injury.

“Right now lifting the Roland Garros trophy, knowing everything that I have been through the last month with the injuries and all that stuff,” he said. “Probably this one is the moment that I’m really proud about myself, because everything that I have done the last month just to be ready for this tournament with my team, a lot of talks with them.”

Alcaraz plans to get a left ankle tattoo of the Eiffel Tower and the June 9 date to commemorate the title. He got a right ankle tattoo to celebrate his Wimbledon triumph and one behind his elbow for the U.S. Open.

He used to run home from school to watch the French Open on TV.

“This one, it’s really special for the whole Spanish players, for the whole Spanish people,” Alcaraz said. “We’ve watched not only Rafael Nadal, but a lot of great Spanish players won this tournament. (My coach) Juan Carlos (Ferrer) won this one in 2003, the year I was born.”

If Alcaraz wins the Australian Open in 2025 or 2026, he will break Don Budge’s record as the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam.

The French Open is the final tournament in Paris Olympic tennis qualifying.