Alcaraz takes the fourth set against Zverev to draw level in the French Open men’s final
PARIS (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz has won the fourth set 6-1 against Alexander Zverev to send the French Open final into a decisive fifth set on Sunday.
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates as he won the semifinal match of the French Open tennis tournament against Italy’s Jannik Sinner at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris, Friday, June 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)PAG
By The Associated Press
PARIS (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz has won the fourth set 6-1 against Alexander Zverev to send the French Open final into a decisive fifth set on Sunday.
Alcaraz won the first set 6-3, then Zverev won the second set 6-2 and the third 7-5 to move ahead.
Both players are looking to win the title for the first time on the red clay at Court Philippe Chatrier.
No. 3 seed Alcaraz vs. No. 4 seed Zverev marks the first men’s final at Roland Garros since 2004 without at least one of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer participating.
Zverev leads the head-to-head series against Alcaraz 5-4.
Alcaraz owns two Grand Slam trophies already. He won the U.S. Open on hard courts in 2022 and Wimbledon on grass last year.
The 21-year-old from Spain can become the youngest man to claim a major title on all three surfaces.
Zverev, a 27-year-old from Germany, is trying to win his first Slam title. He was the runner-up at the 2020 U.S. Open and bowed out in the semifinals in Paris each of the past three years.
Hours before Zverev won his semifinal this time, on Friday, word emerged from a Berlin district court that an out-of-court settlement had ended a trial stemming from a former girlfriend’s accusation of assault during a 2020 argument.
“Unbelievable” – Carlos Alcaraz, like Novak Djokovic, complains about court conditions at French Open during final against Alexander Zverev
Carlos Alcaraz, like Novak Djokovic, complains about court conditions in French Open
Days after Novak Djokovic raised complaints about the condition of the courts at the 2024 French Open, Carlos Alcaraz faced a similar issue against Alexander Zverev in the final on Sunday. Like Djokovic, Alcaraz also took up the matter with the chair umpire, complaining that Court Philippe-Chartrier was too devoid of clay on the night.
Alcaraz came out strong in the opening set of the final in Roland Garros, taking it 6-3. However, the German found his rhythm soon afterwards, upping his game to take the second set 6-2. In the third, the Spaniard was leading 5-2 before capitulating under pressure, allowing Zverev to mount a comeback for 6-5.
In the changeover before the final game, the World No. 3 addressed the umpire, pointing out that there was barely any clay on the court that it felt like a hardcourt to him.
“That’s crazy talk” – Talks of Iga Swiatek potentially breaking Chris Evert’s French Open record leaves journalist in two minds
“Carlos Alcaraz is better than Federer, Nadal & Djokovic at 21” – John McEnroe
In Pictures: Iga Swiatek turns heads in stunning white and blue outfit with 4th Roland-Garros trophy during French Open champion photoshoot
“This is unbelievable,” Carlos Alcaraz said. “It’s not a clay court, it’s a hard court. No clay there.”
In the fourth-round win against Franciso Cerundolo on Philippe-Chartrier, Djokovic had been left fuming by the build-up of clay on the court, which also led to him having a nasty fall.
“Great job from you guys. You know better than us. It’s not slippery at all. Not dangerous at all. Well done supervisor and everyone. Ground staff, well done,” Djokovic muttered to himself while sarcastically giving a thumbs up.
While Djokovic managed to win the clash, he ended up tearing his medial meniscus muscle and withdrew from his quarterfinal fixture against Casper Ruud. In Carlos Alcaraz’s case, the Spaniard went on to lose the set in the next immediately after speaking to the chair umpire.
Leave a Reply