Carlos Alcaraz Survives a Scare, Proves His Champion Spirit at Roland-Garros
What a wild ride it was for Carlos Alcaraz on Friday night at Roland-Garros. You’d think the defending champion would breeze through an early-round match, right? Not quite. What was expected to be another clay court masterclass from the young Spaniard turned into a real fright night — the kind of match that tests not just your game, but your guts.
He faced off against Damir Dzumhur, a 33-year-old veteran who, despite struggling with injury and needing a medical timeout, somehow found it in him to throw everything he had at Alcaraz. The first two sets? Classic Carlos — dominant, fluid, in control. But then came the third set, and suddenly the match tilted. Dzumhur, clearly in pain, emerged from his break and played with nothing to lose. He took that third set and even jumped to a 2-0 lead in the fourth. You could feel the tension. Alcaraz, normally composed and electric, looked frustrated. He even snapped a bit at his box.
But this is where champions are made, isn’t it?
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Down 3-1 in that fourth set, Alcaraz found his inner fire. He rallied with a level of focus and intensity that reminded everyone exactly why he’s the reigning champion. It wasn’t pretty, but it was powerful. He turned it around, closed it out 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-4, and secured his 18th clay-court win in 19 matches over the past two months.
“I didn’t enjoy it that much,” Alcaraz said after the match — and you could tell he meant it. The match was messy, gritty, emotional. But sometimes, that's what it takes. He had to fight for every point and dig deep to avoid a major upset. And that’s what’s most impressive — not just his athleticism, but the heart he showed when things got tough.
It’s also worth noting: this wasn’t the first time this week that Alcaraz dropped a set. In the previous round, he also went four sets against Fabian Marozsan. Still, the Spanish sensation has shown he has that extra gear — that special mode that only the best can switch on when it matters most. He’ll need it, too, as he faces the red-hot American Ben Shelton next, a rising star who just eliminated the giant-killer Matteo Gigante.
And while all this drama was unfolding on Chatrier, other storylines were brewing. Holger Rune had to ask for a fan to be removed after aggressive heckling during his five-set win, and tournament officials denied Novak Djokovic’s request to reschedule so he could watch the Champions League final — proving, for once, that even Djokovic can’t always get his way.
But let’s bring it back to Carlitos. He’s now 20-3 at the French Open — reaching that milestone faster than almost anyone in history. Only legends like Rafael Nadal, Bjorn Borg, and his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero got there as quickly. On clay, he’s 98-19 overall, boasting one of the highest win percentages ever.
At just 22, Alcaraz is already etching his name next to the greats. The way he slides, the way he fights, the way he adapts under pressure — this kid from Murcia is not just chasing history. He’s already making it.
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