Andre Agassi reveals what makes Carlos Alcaraz unstoppable after French Open triumph

Take it from eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi; he is aware of what elite-level play appears to be like like in males’s tennis. The final American to win the French Open delivered Sunday’s singles trophy to 22-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz after a heart-stopping, five-set victory over world No. 1 Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros.

Alcaraz’s second consecutive Grand Slam on clay and the fifth of his blossoming profession was inconceivable after he overcame a two-set deficit in a significant for the primary time in his profession. Alcaraz fought off triple-championship level within the fourth set and later gained the primary seven factors of the 10-point tiebreak within the fifth to resolve the match.

Regardless of being the brand new ‘Prince of Clay’ given his newest heroics, Alcaraz is gearing up for a probably extra memorable event displaying later this month in one other main, based on Agassi.

“Alcaraz’s finest floor to me, shockingly, can be between right here and Wimbledon … I’d say grass,” Agassi said on set with Patrick McEnroe at the French Open. “Purpose I’d say grass has nothing to do along with his swings. It has to do with the much less diminishing pace that occurs to him versus different gamers.

“You bought to recollect — this man has defensive pace like Novak (Djokovic), if no more. He has really feel like (Roger) Federer, you’ll be able to argue at occasions, if no more. He has RPMs and tempo like Rafa (Nadal), you would argue, possibly much more. He has to string that stuff collectively. When he will get on the market on the grass and then you definately usher in that UFO motion stuff, I imply, his second step is ridiculous and he believes in it a lot he does not peel out defensively whenever you push him into corners.”

Agassi’s first main title got here on grass at Wimbledon in 1992 and that was his final victory on the All England Membership. Alcaraz will probably be gunning for his third consecutive Wimbledon title in a number of weeks after taking out Djokovic within the ultimate the final two years.

Alcaraz’s stellar play magnified down the stretch

Alcaraz chased down practically each return punch from Sinner in Sunday’s ultimate set with cat-like quickness, utilizing power from the gang inside Court docket Philippe-Chatrier in Paris to assist gas his comeback. Contemplating Sinner had gained 32 consecutive main units till failing within the third, Alcaraz’s marathon comeback was merely inconceivable.

He is the primary man to avoid wasting match level and later win in a Grand Slam ultimate since Djokovic outlasted Federer at Wimbledon in 2019.

“The match isn’t completed till he wins the final level,” Alcaraz said after the match. “Numerous occasions folks got here again from match level down in ultimate of a Grand Slam and even in different matches. I simply wished to be a kind of gamers who saved match level within the Grand Slam ultimate and ended up profitable.

“I simply believed on a regular basis. I by no means doubted myself, even in these match factors down. I assumed, only one level at a time. Only one level after which after one level, attempt to save that recreation and preserve believing. That is what I assumed.”

Alcaraz credited Sinner with playing “amazing” tennis in the final, however ultimately, it was his fifth consecutive victory over the hard-hitting Italian. Alcaraz grew to become the third-fastest participant in males’s tennis to succeed in his fifth profession Grand Slam.

“Actually, the coincidence of profitable my fifth Grand Slam in the identical age as Rafa Nadal, I’ll say that is future, I suppose,” Alcaraz stated. “It’s a stat that I’ll preserve for me perpetually, profitable the fifth Grand Slam concurrently Rafa, my idol, my inspiration. It is an enormous honor truthfully. 

“Hopefully, it is not going to cease like this.”