Carlos Alcaraz’s promising youthful performances hinted at a future thrilling profession, leading him to participate in his debut ATP challenger event in April 2019, at the tender age of 15. The initial round faced Alcaraz, an unrated wildcard, up against a 319th ranked 17-year-old, Jannik Sinner. Both youngsters put up a fierce three-set fight, with Alcaraz clinching his first challenger victory.
This consequential inaugural encounter, witnessed by a small local audience in Alcaraz’s academy in Villena, Spain, possibly marked the inception of a fiercely competitive rivalry for the succeeding generation post the ‘big three’. Their first meeting as grand slam champions at a significant tournament, despite a frigid start, evolved into a drama-filled match. Alcaraz turned around the game after trailing a set and a break, securing his debut Roland Garros final with a 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 triumph.
“Some of the most demanding matches I have contended in my brief career have been against Jannik,” Alcaraz admitted. He praised Sinner’s expertise, his supportive team, and his relentless hard work. He expressed his desire to experience more similar challenging games against Sinner, acknowledging it as among his most strenuous.
This game was the most youthful grand slam semi-final since Andy Murray’s victory over Rafael Nadal in the 2008 US Open. With this win, Alcaraz has made history by becoming the youngest ever to reach a slam final on all three surfaces. The 21-year-old is also the second-youngest to make it to the final in the 21st century, with Nadal being younger on three instances. He will be seeking his third major title come Sunday.
Despite Alcaraz’s assertive initial approach, it was Sinner who dominated the initial proceedings. Implementing consistent and deep returns, the 22-year-old fended off Alcaraz’s powerful forehands easily. Given time, Sinner’s shots proved unreturnable. Within the first 20 minutes, the young Italian had a 4-0 lead, going on to secure the first set promptly.
As the mistakes of Alcaraz mounted, what was concerning quickly turned critical when he found himself a set and a break behind. Drawing upon successful strategies from their prior rendezvous at Indian Wells, he managed to fight back, adding higher arcs and more spins to his rally ball, tweaking the speed of his volleys and consequently disrupting Sinner’s pace. Even after falling behind 6-2, 2-0, Alcaraz managed to balance the scales.
Both participants were evidently bogged down by their nervousness, culminating in physical manifestations. Much like Alcaraz’s encounter with Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals a year prior, both players began suffering from cramps. Sinner sought medical assistance for his right hand and later his legs during the game breaks. His physical ailments compelled him to shorten the length of the points, unwittingly granting him more freedom to attack. Just as Alcaraz was appearing to gain the upper hand, Sinner secured a crucial break and regained his one-set lead.
As both players exerted themselves, the match seemed predominately characterised by tension and missteps. Gradually, the fourth set reignited the match’s vibrancy. They each protected their services efficiently, maintaining their service games while gradually loosening their ball striking. However, Alcaraz seemed to be patiently waiting for his chance. With the score at 5-4 in Sinner’s favor, he seized the opportunity and cinched a chaotic game by shooting a cross-court backhand winner at the first chance.
Entering the next game with momentum on his side, Alcaraz was landing his first serves and his forehand seemed to find a rhythm, enabling him to control the baseline exchanges. He grabbed a break early in the fifth set and despite Sinner’s persistent pressure, the Spaniard held his ground in a climactic concluding game to proceed further.
Post match, he expressed, “Suffering must be savoured.” He continued, “I believe this is the key. The longer rallies and marathon five-set matches on clay demand it. Suffering is inevitable but, as I told my team, it’s important to find joy in suffering.”
Alcaraz achieved yet another crucial landmark following a challenging year of 11 months. Since his extraordinary Wimbledon triumph the previous year, the Spaniard has claimed a single championship. Beside multiple injuries, he has occasionally showcased detrimental inconsistency on the tennis court, struggling to control his impulsiveness. However, this demonstrated his maturity, as he was able to adapt, make necessary changes and pave his own path forward. – Guardian