Carlos Alcaraz creates history, wins first French Open title by overcoming Zverev's tough challenge

21-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz won the French Open title for the first time by overcoming a tough five-set challenge from Germany's Alexander Zverev 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2. Alcaraz also became the youngest player to win three Grand Slam titles.

Alcaraz, the third seed, demonstrated tremendous resilience and skill during the four-hour, 19-minute struggle on Paris clay. Despite entering the event with a right-hand injury and missing three weeks of competition, he displayed his persistence by winning 12 of the final 15 games, cementing his place among the sport's finest players.

The match began with both players showing symptoms of nerves, as both lost their first service games. However, Alcaraz swiftly regained his groove, breaking Zverev's serve three times to win the opening set 6-3. The German, competing in his second major final, changed his strategy in the second set, earning 83% of his first serve points and 80% of those points to tie the match at one set apiece.

In the third set, Zverev looked in control, breaking Alcaraz's serve twice and taking the set 7-5. The momentum seemed to be in Zverev's favor as he entered the fourth set with confidence. However, Alcaraz, known for his mental toughness, took his game to another level, taking the fourth set 6-1 and decisively winning the fifth set.

The final set was a testament to Alcaraz's ability to perform well under pressure. At a crucial juncture when Alcaraz was serving at 2-1, 15/40, the second serve was given out, but after the chair umpire checked the mark and ruled on it, Alcaraz kept his composure to consolidate the break. This crucial moment shifted the momentum back in his favor, and he never looked back, eventually closing out the set 6-2 to win the championship.

Alcaraz's road to the final was far from smooth. During this time, he defeated top players including Jannik Sinner in a thrilling semifinal. His victory in the final marked his third consecutive season with a Grand Slam title, following his victories on the hard courts of the 2022 US Open and on the grass courts of Wimbledon in 2023.

With this win, Alcaraz now joins an elite group of Spaniards to have won the Coupe des Mousquetaires, including his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, who won the title in 2003. The victory also cements his status as a rising star in the tennis world, having already claimed 11 ATP Tour titles and becoming the youngest World No. 1 in the history of the ATP Rankings in 2022.