Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz Set for Roland-Garros Showdown
After three challenging semi-finals, Alexander Zverev, seeded number 4, is set to compete in his first final at Roland-Garros. This achievement comes two years after Zverev suffered a serious injury—tearing several ligaments in his right ankle during a semi-final against Rafael Nadal. Additionally, just two days ago, Zverev concluded an amicable agreement in Berlin following a trial for domestic violence against his former partner. Now, the German, who was the finalist at the 2020 US Open, is on a relentless quest for his first major title.
Facing Zverev will be Carlos Alcaraz, seeded number 3, who seeks to claim his third Grand Slam title, having previously won the US Open in 2022 and Wimbledon in 2023. Alcaraz has a remarkable track record on clay courts, winning more than half of his titles (7 out of 13) on this surface. This final offers Alcaraz an opportunity to further cement his status, particularly in a tournament that often reminds fans of his compatriot and elder, Rafael Nadal.
Historical Context and Final Details
In their previous encounters, Zverev has secured five wins in nine matches against Alcaraz. In Grand Slam settings, Zverev has triumphed twice out of their three confrontations, including their clash at Roland-Garros in 2022, which was a tightly contested bout ending 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) in Zverev’s favor. However, on clay courts, it's Alcaraz who holds the upper hand, having won two of their three matches on this surface.
En route to the final, Alcaraz displayed resilience by overcoming Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets during the eighth round and Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarters. His semi-final against Italian Jannik Sinner, assured of becoming world number one at the tournament's end, extended to five grueling sets and over four hours of play.
Conversely, Zverev’s journey to the final was highlighted by his victory over Rafael Nadal early in the tournament. In his semi-final match against two-time runner-up Casper Ruud, Zverev benefited from Ruud’s physical struggles, overcoming the Norwegian in four sets.
The highly-anticipated men's singles final at Roland-Garros is scheduled for Sunday, June 9, starting at 3 p.m. The match will be available for viewers on France 2 and Prime Video, and can also be followed with live commentary on leparisien.fr.
- Court Philippe Chatrier will feature the women's doubles final at 11:30 a.m., where Errani-Paoloni (ITA, 11) will face Gauff-Siniakova (USA, RTC, 5). The men's singles final is slated to commence not before 2:30 p.m. between Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz.
- Alexander Zverev, with a semi-final win record against Carlos Alcaraz, might draw confidence from their previous Grand Slam encounters. However, Alcaraz's prowess on clay courts makes this contest highly unpredictable.
- The outcome of this final is crucial not just for personal milestones but also for broader tennis narratives, potentially marking a shift in dominance or an affirmation of rising stars in the absence of seasoned players like Rafael Nadal.
