Alcaraz beats Zverev in marathon French Open final for 3rd Grand Slam title

As Carlos Alcaraz began constructing his comeback in Sunday's French Open final, a 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 victory over Alexander Zverev for a first championship at Roland Garros and third Grand Slam title in all, there arrived the sort of magical shot the kid is making a regular part of his varied repertoire.

It was a running, then sliding, down-the-line, untouchable forehand passing winner that Alcaraz celebrated by thrusting his right index finger overhead in a "No. 1" sign, then throwing an uppercut while screaming, "Vamos!"

No, he is not ranked No. 1 at the moment — the man he beat in the semifinals, Jannik Sinner, makes his debut at the top spot on Monday — but Alcaraz has been there before and, although a "2" will be beside his name next week, there is little doubt that he is as good as it gets in men's tennis right now. And more accomplished than any other man ever has been at his age.

Alcaraz is a 21-year-old from Spain who grew up running home from school to watch on TV as countryman Rafael Nadal was accumulating trophy after trophy at Roland Garros in Paris — a record 14 — and he just eclipsed Nadal as the youngest man to collect major championships on three surfaces. Nadal was about 1 1/2 years older when he did it.

WATCH: Alcarez wins French Open:

Alcaraz outlasts Zverev in marathon match to win French Open

7 months ago

Duration 2:41

The 21-year-old Spanish phenom defeated Alexander Zverev 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 to capture his third career grand slam title. He became the youngest competitor to win a championship on all three surfaces.

"Now," Alcaraz told his parents, who were at Court Philippe Chatrier on Sunday, "I am lifting this trophy in front of you."

Alcaraz adds that one from the clay-court Slam to a collection of hardware that includes triumphs on hard courts at the U.S. Open in 2022 and on grass at Wimbledon in 2023. He is 3-0 in major Slam finals.

"It's an amazing career already. You're already a Hall of Famer. You already achieved so much — and you're only 21 years old," said Zverev, a 27-year-old from Germany who is 0-2 in major title matches. "Incredible player. Not the last time you're going to win this."

Zverev, who entered the day on a 12-match winning streak, faltered after surging in front by reeling off the last five games of the third set. Alcaraz's level dipped during that stretch and he seemed distracted by a complaint over the condition of the clay, telling chair umpire Renaud Lichtenstein it was "unbelievable."

But Alcaraz reset and ran away with it, taking 12 of the last 15 games while being treated by a trainer at changeovers for an issue with his left leg.

Alcaraz managed to come out strong in the fourth set, grabbing 16 of the first 21 points to move out to a 4-0 edge. The fifth saw more of the same.

Like against Zverev, Alcaraz overturned a deficit of two sets to one in the semifinals against Sinner, making him the first man to capture the French Open by doing that in each of the last two matches since Manolo Santana — also from Spain — pulled off the trick in 1961.

Alcaraz first learned to play tennis on the rust-colored slow surface, although he says he prefers hard courts. Alcaraz says he dreamed long ago of adding his own name to the list of Spanish men to win the event, including his coach, 2003 champion Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Gauff wins 1st Grand Slam doubles title

Coco Gauff won her first Grand Slam doubles title by teaming with Katerina Siniakova for the French Open trophy earlier on Sunday.

Gauff, a 20-year-old American who won the U.S. Open singles title last year, and Siniakova, who is from the Czech Republic, defeated Italians Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani 7-6 (5), 6-3 on Court Philippe Chatrier.