French Open: Carlos Alcaraz questioned himself during final against Alexander Zverev - ‘A lot of doubts’

Published 09/06/2024 at 19:26 GMT

Carlos Alcaraz said that he had "a lot of doubts" at the end of the third set of the French Open men's singles final against Alexander Zverev. The Spaniard beat the fourth seed in five sets in four hours and 19 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier to claim a third Grand Slam title and a first at Roland-Garros, but he had to do it the hard way.

Alcaraz reveals 'lot of doubts' at end of third set before miraculous comeback

In an exclusive interview with Eurosport, Carlos Alcaraz admitted that he had “a lot of doubts” at two sets to one down in his French Open final against Alexander Zverev, before he roared back to take the title.

The Spaniard secured a maiden Roland-Garros title in five sets against the fourth seed, edging a thriller 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2.

However, the third seed revealed that when he sat down at the end of the third set, there were doubts swirling around in his head as he trailed the impressive German.

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At one point in that third set, Alcaraz had been 5-2 ahead and just two points from taking it.

But Zverev took the next five games in a row to seal it 7-5 in a dramatic turnaround, as the 21-year-old began to make some uncharacteristic mistakes.

However, it was Alcaraz who dominated the contest from then on, winning the fourth set comfortably 6-1, and holding off a late Zverev resurgence to claim a third Grand Slam of his nascent career.

“It was a great journey this last two weeks, since the first match until today,” Alcaraz told Eurosport.

“This tournament [is one] I wanted to win since I was a little kid, when I watched this tournament since I was five, six years old. It’s something great for me; a dream come true, and something I’m going to enjoy with my people.

“Honestly, when I finished the third set, I had a lot of doubts. I’m not going to lie because I felt like my shots [weren’t] putting trouble onto Sascha. He was dominating the game very well with his serve and topspin balls. It was difficult for me. It doesn’t matter that he had the serve to win the third set. I don’t know whether it was nerves.

“I didn’t play my best tennis in the third set, but we were in a final of a Grand Slam, so it was the time to give everything. It was the time to find solutions, and starting the fourth set at 40-0 helped me a lot to relieve a little bit. Play my style, my game, and in the fifth set, it was time to give everything I had inside.

“It was difficult. Sascha was playing great tennis. He put a lot of pressure on with his serve and returns. I saved a lot of break points in the fifth set. It was 6-2, but I could have lost it honestly.

“It was really, really close. It was tricky with the wind, the shadow and sun. I knew very well that I had to find a way; to adapt to the conditions, and I’m happy to do it very well today.”

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The Wimbledon champion revealed in his on-court speech that he had arrived in Paris with more “doubts”, this time concerning his fitness and lack of preparation.

“The last month we were struggling a lot with the injury and coming back to Madrid and not feeling well,” Alcaraz said.

“Then the next weeks, with a lot of doubts, coming here and practising not too much. I’m really grateful to have the team that I have and the people that I have around.

"I know that everyone is giving their heart just to make me improve as a player and a person; to grow up. I’m really grateful, and I call you a team, but it’s a family, so thank you very much."