Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev are both just three sets away from winning their maiden Roland-Garros title. But the road to the trophy is still long
Rafael Nadal knows a thing or two about winning at Roland-Garros and he has always said that winning may bring you happiness but you have to suffer to earn your prize.
And both of today’s finalists have suffered in their own ways to get their chance to compete for the Coupe des Mousquetaires.
Alexander Zverev’s relationship with Court Philippe-Chatrier is bittersweet. On Friday night, it was the scene of his most satisfying victory: at last, in his fourth successive semi-final, he had reached the final by beating Casper Ruud.
Yet two years before at the same stage, as he stood toe-to-toe with Nadal, trading blows with barely a whisker separating them, he fell and tore three ligaments in his ankle. His chance – many thought his best chance – had gone.
He had been in a Grand Slam final before, at the US Open in 2020, and stood two points from victory but Dominic Thiem would not let him pass. That had been a devastating loss to deal with. Now he was facing surgery and months of recovery. It seemed too much for anyone to bear. But not Zverev.
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFT“Going from the US Open final where I was two points away to being rolled off in a wheelchair here two years ago – it's all the path of my journey,” he said. “You either come back stronger and you come back hungrier or you kind of go into yourself. You drop mentally a bit. I'm happy that I was the sort of person that took the first path.”
Carlos Alcaraz, too, knows the bitter disappointment of defeat on this court. Last year he went into the semi-final as the marginal favourite over Novak Djokovic. That is when his nerves kicked in and he was stricken with cramp.
Djokovic reeled him in and Alcaraz looked crushed. He had been beaten by his own frailties. But he learned his lesson and when he faced Jannik Sinner on Friday and cramped again, he fought through it.
©Cédric Lecocq / FFT“I'm stronger mentally,” he said. “I knew how to deal with these situations. I knew that the cramps would go away if I stay there. You have to stay there, fight it. I learned from last year. You have to enjoy suffering. That is the key.”
They have played nine times in the last three and half years (Zverev leads their rivalry 5-4). On clay, Alcaraz leads the head-to-head 2-1. In Grand Slams, Zverev leads 2-1. Alcaraz has won seven clay court titles, Zverev has won eight. Alcaraz is the world No.3, Zverev is No.4. But Alcaraz has won two Grand Slam titles; this is only Zverev’s second final.
There is almost nothing between them and they are joined by one common bond: they know that if they are to lift the trophy today, they will have to suffer along the way.
ROLAND-GARROS
19 May - 8 June 2025
