Carlos Alcaraz, Successor Of Rafael Nadal

Carloz Alcaraz won Roland Garros 2024 (Instagram/@carlitosalcarazz).

JAKARTA - Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz has just won the title from the clay Grand Slam event Roland Garros 2024 or the French Open.

The tennis player whose full name is Carlos Alcaraz Garfia made sure he came out as the champion at Roland Garros 2024 after rising heroicly.

He made a comeback from behind to beat Germany's Alexander Zverev in a marathon match of six sets 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, and 6-2 at Philippe Chatrier Square, Roland Garros, Paris, France, Sunday, June 9, 2024.

The trophy is the third Grand Slam title in the tennis player's or first at Roland Garros' career. He took on two other Grand Slams in hard fields, namely the US Open 2022 and the Wimbledon 2023 grass field.

Achievements in Paris have made Alcaraz, who is currently 21 years old, the youngest player in history to successfully win a Grand Slam on three different surfaces: clay field, grass field, and hard field.

When winning the French Open 2024, Alcaraz was exactly 21 years and 1 month old. He automatically passed the record of his idol and compatriot, Rafael Nadal, who made this achievement at the Australian Open 2009 when he was 22 years and 7 months old.

Alcaraz's title at Roland Garros 2024 also adds to the long list of Spanish players who have been successful on clay since Andres Gimeno became Spain's first tennis player to win there in 1972.

After that, Matador Country gave birth to many clay field specialists such as Sergi Bruguera (1993 and 1994 winners), Carlos Moya ( 1998 winners), Albert Costa (2002 winners), and Nadal.

The last name is the most successful tennis player in the history of the Roland Garros tournament with 14 titles. Alcaraz, who was born on May 5, 2003, spent most of his childhood watching Nadal, which then made him ambitious to follow in the footsteps of his idol. The goal is now realized.

Successfully winning Thevistors trophy, Alcaraz also recorded another brilliant achievement, which was unbeaten in his first three Grand Slam finals.

Alcaraz started his career at the Real Sociedad Club de Campo de Murcia junior level. While there, he successfully won two ITF Junior Circuit titles, an achievement that then led him up to 22nd in the world at that time.

Rio Open 2020 then marked the tennis player's debut at ATP when he was 16 years old. Then, in 2021, Alcaraz successfully earned his first title in the ATP 250 tournament, Croatia Open to be exact.

Alcaraz's achievements continued to climb after that. He managed to penetrate the top 50 in the world thanks to his achievements in breaking into the quarter-finals at the US Open 2021.

In the same year before he won his first Grand Slam, Alcaraz won ATP 500 at the 2022 Rio Open, 2022 Barcelona Open, and 1000 ATP at the 2022 Miami Open, as well as the 2022 Madrid Open.

At a time in Madrid, Alcaraz even became the first young player to beat seeded tennis player, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, in a row.

He then set a record as the youngest US Open 2022 champion at the age of 19 years and 4 months and 6 days.

Rafael Nadal's Estate Stick

Rafael Nadal has entered the dusk of his career. He is 38 years old.

The hip injury suffered in January 2023 made it difficult for him to return to his best form.

However, Nadal does not need to worry, let alone Spain. The country of Matador has given birth to the world's top tennis player in Carlos Alcaraz.

The 21-year-old is now ranked second in the world, under Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz seems to have been born to be Nadal's successor after winning the clay field Grand Slam, Roland Garros 2024, for the first time.

Trophy became Alcaraz's dream, which had loved Nadal since childhood, to come true. Alcaraz seemed to give a sign that Roland Garros was obliged to return to the hands of the Spanish tennis player.

Nadal last won the clay field in the 2022 edition. Roland Garros' title then flew from the hands of a Spanish tennis player in the 2023 edition after Novak Djokovic won.

Now, that tradition is returned by Alcaraz. He is now pursuing Nadal's achievements which won 14 times Roland Garros. Five of them were won in a row (2010-2014) and won four consecutive trophies (2005-2008 and 2017-2020) twice.

"Since I was a child, I ran home from school just to turn on the TV and watch this tournament (Roland Garros)."

"Now, I lift the trophy in front of all of you. It's amazing support I received. I feel like I'm at home myself," said Alcaraz.

Alcaraz won that victory with a hard struggle. He had suffered a right arm injury while leading over Zverev. However, he put aside his pain to achieve a dream.

"This is a great job in the past month. We have struggled a lot with that injury."

"Back to Madrid, I wasn't feeling well and the following weeks with a lot of doubt coming here (Roland Garros), didn't train for too many hours on the pitch."

"I'm so grateful to have this team. I know that everyone in my team gives their hearts to make me develop as a player and as a person."

"So, I am very grateful and I call you not a team, but a family," said Alcaraz again.

Record and Statistics

Carlos Alcaraz will never forget Roland Garros 2024. He scored all kinds of records and statistics.

In addition to being the youngest tennis player to win three Grand Slams on three different surfaces, the victory over Zverev also marks that Alcaraz won 11 of the 12 Grand Slam matches which took place in five sets.

Alcaraz's mentality reminded everyone of Rafael Nadal.

"You have to give your heart. At those moments, that's where the top players give their best.

"I want to be one of the best players in the world. So, I have to give extra on moments in the fifth set. I have to show the opponent that I am fresh. I like playing the first game of the game."

"It works pretty well if the opponent sees me moving well. I did a good hit. I found a good solution."

"Of course, mental strength plays a big role in that moment if you want," said Alcaraz.

Carlos Alcaraz is now predicted to pursue Novak Djokovic's Grand Slam record (24 times). However, with humility he did not want to think about it.

"I spoke with my coach, Juan Carlos F Way, before facing the final (Roland Garros 2024)."

"He told me, 'You're going to fight for your third Grand Slam title, with everything you've been through. You know the part of the difficulty of winning a Grand Slam tournament. Djokovic has 24 titles. So this is hard to believe'."

"Right now I can't think about it. I just want to move forward. Let's see how many Grand Slams I will take at the end of my career."

"Hopefully it will reach 24, but now I will enjoy the third. Let's see in the future," said Alcaraz.

Carlos Alcaraz's Personal Data

Full Name: Carlos Alcaraz Garfia

Nationality: Spain

Place/Date of Birth: El Palmar, Murcia, Spain/May 5, 2003 (21 Years)

High: 1.83 meters

Coach: Juan Carlos F Way

Professional Career: 2018

Single Career Record: 18048 (78.9%)

Titel: 14 Times

Highest Rank: No. 1 (12 September 2022)

Ranking Now: No. 2 (10 June 2024)

Grand Slam (Single) record

Australian Open: Quarter Finals (2024)

France Open: Champion (2024)

Wimbledon: Champion (2023)

US Open: Champion (2022)

Other Tournaments

Tour Finals: Semifinals SF (2023)

Double Career Record: 33 (50.0%)

Titel (Double): 0

Highest Rank (Double): No. 519 (9 May 2022)