French Open 2024 final result: Carlos Alcaraz fights back to win a deciding-set thriller with Alexander Zverev and lift his first Roland-Garros title and third Grand Slam overall

Full report, reaction and videos from Alcaraz's thrilling five-set victory over Alexander Zverev.

What a way to conclude a brilliant French Open.

See you again in 2025!

Alcaraz pays tribute to Zverev and his recovery from the injury two years ago. He says he thinks Sascha fights with all of his heart and will have opportunities to win Grand Slams - and this title - in the future.

He discusses the forearm injury he had coming into this tournament and the doubts it created. He thanks his team for all of their efforts and how it all came together for this triumph.

He thanks his family and mentions the journey from watching the tournament as a kid to becoming a champion here. He concludes with the usual mentions to staff at RG and the crowd.

In his runner-up speech on court, Zverev says well done to his opponent and can't believe Carlitos has a third Grand Slam at 21 years of age.

The German says it's incredible to have done it at that age and on three different surfaces. He adds that Alcaraz is already a 'Hall of Famer.'

Zverev says it won't be the last time he wins RG either.

'Congratulations Carlos Alcaraz for this immense victory!!!! Big!!!! Very happy for your successes!!!'

The Swede lifted SIX Roland-Garros titles between 1974 and 1981, including four in a row.

Carlos Alcaraz is a Roland-Garros champion for the very first time!

The Spaniard once again hits back from a deficit to prevail in a decider and win his third Grand Slam title after a rollercoaster four hours and 19 minutes on an enthralled Court Philippe-Chatrier.

The victory sees the 21-year-old rise back to No.2 in the world and become just the seventh man – and youngest ever - to capture majors on all three surfaces.

Alcaraz is also the eighth Spaniard to triumph at the Paris major and just the fifth active male player to lift 3+ Grand Slam titles (Djokovic 24, Nadal 22, Murray & Wawrinka 3).

The 21-year-old opens with a blistering crosscourt forehand but then fizzes one long on the run to give Zverev hope at 15-15.

Carlitos then deploys the dropper to take charge and he has two match points when Zverev loops a poor forehand long...

Alcaraz makes his move – and now he has the insurance break!

The World No.3 slides into another shot with Zverev at the net and somehow slices a bewitching one-handed, backhand crosscourt pass that clips the tape and flies over.

It leaves Sascha staring at his opponent in disbelief and the German knows it’s all-but up when Carlitos clips the outside of the chalk with a bullet forehand down the line to break to love.

Alcaraz will now serve for the title!

This one is worth another look... and another... and then another...

Enjoy!

Zverev is going to have to strike back soon if he’s to land that maiden major and he threatens at 15-30 with a super, dipping forehand that Carlitos can’t claw back on the volley.

The Spaniard retorts with ‘controlled aggression’ that impresses Tim Henman on Eurosport Comms and snares game point with a clinical plus-one forehand to the postage stamp.

Zverev presses to deuce and angles away a backhand volley to earn a BP but Alcaraz almost waltzes to the net to swat away the forehand volley.

The German has a chance to press further but butchers a make-able mid-court backhand into the net and tries to suggest Alcaraz stopped mid-point to look at a line. It didn’t impede the rally and the umpire is not interested.

Zverev then flips a poor effort to reach a low slice tamely into the net and Alcaraz again dances with danger before digging out the hold.

Zverev puts himself through the mill as he moves from a feeling of confidence at 40-15 up to one of near catastrophe at break point down when Alcaraz picks off his poor, short slice with a backhand down the line.

The No.4 seed lives dangerously with a short-angled crosscourt backhand that clips a slither of the line and then stays in contention when he fires away the same shot with more authority to grind out a tricky hold.

It’s raining gifts on Chatrier – but somehow, yes somehow, Alcaraz prevails.

Carlitos tightens up badly, floating a timid dropper into the net and then spewing up triple break back point with a wide forecourt forehand that is greeted by a shocked silence from the Chatrier crowd.

The No.3 seed swats away one with a much better forehand pass and then survives a second serve initially called out. It is corrected by the umpire which leads to a brief argument with a dismayed and desperate Zverev.

The German’s mood darkens when he pushes a backhand long and is then pressed to deuce by an absolute missile of a crosscourt forehand that clips the line.

Zverev then wins the point of the match – hands down – by eventually converting the umpteenth smash after sensational defence and squash shots galore from his opponent.

But Alcaraz won’t allow him to convert his fourth chance and turns it all around to consolidate after a super dropper follows a wrong-footing backhand down the line.

Can his body hold up enough to see him through now?

‘It’s a volley he makes 99 times out of 100,’ says Henman as Zverev follows up an initial howler with another from close-in.

The stakes are so high and it’s no real surprise when the German blinks with a double fault to cough up triple break point.

The No.4 seed saves one but then cannons a backhand long off a routine rally ball and it’s a gift for Alcaraz to take charge!

‘Who is going to have the courage and conviction to keep being aggressive and going for their shots,’ asks Tim Henman on Eurosport Comms.

It follows a cagey and somewhat scrappy exchange of points with both players firing long with tight shots they would usually make in their sleep.

In the end, Alcaraz does just enough with an excellent wide serve closing-out a hold to 30 to get him on the board.