Since Rafael Nadal began his era at Roland Garros in 2005, at the age of 19, the fourteen-time champion only left room for Novak Djokovic three times, Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka. Only the fifth new win in two decades will emerge from today’s final (3:00 pm) between Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and German Alexander Zverev, who are part of the list of candidates for the Musketeers Cup from from the beginning.
The Murcian has included himself among the favorites once a muscle injury to his right forearm is behind him. The German confirmed his recent success at the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome by defeating Nadal in the event’s opener.
“This tournament is very special for me, because I used to run home from school to watch it on television. I want to leave my mark here, write my name in the list of Spanish champions, be with Nadal, Ferrero, Moya, Costa”. At 21 years old, he went to No. 1 and has the US Open 2022 and Wimbledon 2023 titles, but this event is an emotional extra.
And then came his turn, in his fourth participation. “I tell myself a lot, that finals are not for playing, you have to win them,” he remembers with his grandfather’s three ‘c’s: ‘head, heart and c…’. These are non-negotiable dogmas of faith. He wants to remain unbeaten in his third Grand Slam final.
“Beating Sinner is a great achievement, but it doesn’t feel like an early final,” he insisted. He feels that he is a favorite because of his conditions and ambitions. “We came to this tournament to win. Otherwise, the taste will be bittersweet,” he said entering the second week of the competition. Although he respects Sasha Zverev very wise not to let his vigilance be protocol, as that is what the Teuton entity advises and has a negative track record so far.
He was 4-4 with Sinner, breaking the tie in his favor. He starts at 4-5 against Zverev, who is looking to avenge losses in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros 2022 and the last Australian Open, after which he swept the Indian Wells. “It will be another very difficult match,” Alcaraz warned, matching Zverev. “Whoever is in the Grand Slam final is because they deserve it. It’s for both of us, because I think we both expect a tough fight,” said the German.
He missed two critical moments in his career: the 2020 US Open final, which he lost to the Austrian. Dominic Thiem after dominating two sets to zero and a break up, and the serious ankle injury he sustained in his semifinal in Paris with Nadal in 2022. He had to wait for a fourth consecutive ‘semi’ in the French capital to reach the last day.
“I was two points away from the US Open, I went out in a wheelchair at that Roland Garros but you came back even stronger and hungrier,” declared the man who claims to be the first professional German man. In the last century, they won Gottfried Van Cramm and Henner Henkel. Alcaraz will go for a 27th Spanish individual title, 23rd among men, with nine winners split. He wants to be the tenth, eighth man.
In a relationship with Rafa Nadal (14), Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (3), Manolo Santana and Sergi Bruguera (2), Garbiñe Muguurza, Andrés Gimeno, Carlos Moyà, Albert Costa and Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Source: La Verdad
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