Alcaraz reveals how he turned the final around: “When I was down, I tried to think about Rafa”
Carlos Alcaraz saved three match points against Jannik Sinner in the Roland-Garros final
© Dante Badano / Psnewz
Even in retirement, Rafael Nadal‘s aura will always be present in the world of tennis, even more so at Roland-Garros, where he now has his own plaque on the Philippe-Chatrier court, which has crowned him 14 times, a record in a single tournament.
Trailing two sets to zero this Sunday in the final of the Parisian Grand Slam, Carlos Alcaraz had to draw on his physical and mental resources to be able to get through in five sets against Jannik Sinner after five hours and 29 minutes of play – the longest final in the history of Roland-Garros.
The Spanish player even saved three match points when he was down 5-3, 0-40 on his serve in the fourth set. Asked about this turnaround on France Télévisions after his victory, and wondering if Rafael Nadal had watched the final from Mallorca, Carlos Alcaraz revealed that he had thought of his compatriot during the most difficult moments of his match.
“Rafael Nadal was a great inspiration to me, a role model,” he said. “When I was feeling down and had no more strength, I tried to think of Rafa, of all the comebacks he made. I tried to do the same thing, to fight until the last point. Rafa has always been my idol, I want to do the same thing as him.”
Carlos Alcaraz came within one point of defeat against Jannik Sinner this Sunday in the Roland-Garros final. On France Télévisions, the 22-year-old gave more details about what went through his mind when he saved those three match points in the fourth set. He fought until the end, refusing to accept defeat, and was rewarded with a second title at Porte d’Auteuil.
“I had to win those three points and see what would happen next,” he explained. “You can’t be afraid of losing in those moments, you have to go for it and be brave. It’s not easy for the player you’re facing to manage the end of a match or a set after missing match points, so I knew it was to my advantage.”
By winning the final this Sunday after five hours and 29 minutes of play, Carlos Alcaraz won his fifth Grand Slam at 22 years and 34 days, just one day older than Rafael Nadal when he also reached this milestone at Wimbledon in 2008. The two men are inseparable.
