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Agence France-Presse

Carlos Alcaraz said emulating Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic’s successes would be “impossible” after winning his maiden French Open title on Sunday with victory over Alexander Zverev.
The 21-year-old came from behind to win 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 and claimed his third grand slam triumph.
Alcaraz’s victory made him the youngest man to win slam titles on clay, grass and hard courts.
With Roger Federer retired, Nadal expected to hang up his racquet this year and Djokovic having a poor season by his high standards, Alcaraz could be primed to dominate the sport for years to come.
Although he is already making history, he has some way to go to match Nadal’s record of 14 French Open titles or Djokovic’s men’s best total of 24 grand slams.
“Both things are out of the ordinary,” he said. “You have to be an alien to get it.
“What Rafa did with 14 is practically impossible. The 24 grand slams I hope I can but it is almost impossible. Both things are out of the ordinary.

“Before facing this final, he (coach Juan Carlos Ferrero) told me, you’re going to fight for your third grand glam title, with everything you have been through, and you know the difficult part of winning a grand slam, and Djokovic has 24.
“So it is unbelievable. Right now, I can’t think about it.”
Alcaraz will next turn his attentions to the grass-court season and the defence of his Wimbledon title.
But he already has one eye on returning to Roland Garros next month for the Paris Olympics, where he is expected to play alongside the 38-year-old Nadal in the doubles.
“When I come back here to the Olympics I will have flashbacks. It can be very nice, my first Games 40 days after winning my first Roland Garros,” he added.
“I really want to. Fight to give my country a medal, be able to play doubles with my idol Rafa Nadal. Let’s fight. Coming back here is going to be a special feeling.”
He is the eighth Spanish man to win the Coupe des Mousquetaires.
“In Roland Garros, knowing all the Spanish players who have won this tournament and be able to put my name on that amazing list is something unbelievable,” Alcaraz told reporters.
“Something that I dreamed about, being in this position, since I was started playing tennis, since I was five, six years old. So it’s a great, great feeling.”
Third-ranked Alcaraz has already won three major titles, five Masters 1000 tournaments and become the youngest ever world no 1, but said Sunday’s triumph was his proudest moment so far.
He had struggled with a right arm injury in the build-up to the tournament, missing both the Monte Carlo Masters and the Rome Open, either side of a quarter-final loss to Andrey Rublev in Madrid.
“Right now lifting the Roland Garros trophy, knowing everything that I have been through the last month with the injuries and all that stuff, I don’t know,” 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.
“So I’m going to say this one is the most that I am proud about myself.”


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French Open

French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz downplays chasing ‘impossible’ Nadal, Djokovic records

Carlos Alcaraz is all smiles after beating Alexander Zverev to become the French Open champion. Photo: AFP

Carlos Alcaraz, right, beat Alexander Zverev in five sets to claim his first French Open singles title. Photo: AFP

French Open 2024: Iga Swiatek handles ‘huge baggage’ on way to three-peat title

Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates with the trophy after winning against Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. Photo: AFP

Iga Swiatek celebrates clinching victory on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Saturday. Photo: AFP

Novak Djokovic says his knee surgery ‘went well’ and he wants a return to action soon

Djokovic receives assistance during his match on Monday. He withdrew from the tournament the next day. Photo: AP

Djokovic slipped and fell during his fourth-round match, sustaining a meniscus tear in his right knee. Photo: AP

Jannik Sinner will be the first Italian to be world No 1 when the rankings come out on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Sport

Tennis

Spaniard, 21, claimed third grand slam with five-set victory over Alexander Zverev at Roland Garros


Spaniard, 21, claimed third grand slam with five-set victory over Alexander Zverev at Roland Garros which means he has now won a major on all three surfaces.
