logo
Carlos Alcaraz has entered territory that even eluded the ‘Big Three'

Carlos Alcaraz has entered territory that even eluded the ‘Big Three'

Telegrapha day ago

Alcaraz has entered territory that eluded even Nadal, Djokovic and Roger Federer. At just 22, he is a back-to-back champion at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, a double distinction that those three titans could not complete across their entire careers. While it is always tempting to find parallels, to equate Alcaraz's obduracy with Nadal's or his status as the crowd favourite with Federer's, the joy is that he is so defiantly his own man. Where Nadal won 14 of his 22 titles on the crushed brick, Alcaraz's great virtue is his versatility, with his five titles spread across clay, grass and hard courts. Melbourne Park, where he has curiously not advanced beyond the quarter-finals in four attempts, is the one stage he has left to conquer.
The beau monde assembled on Court Philippe Chatrier cheered for Alcaraz as unashamedly as Centre Court, otherwise known as Basel-on-Thames, did for Federer. But their personalities could hardly be more different. Where Federer's emotions would be carefully modulated, Alcaraz's body language in this final was an open book: one moment he was chuntering at coach Juan Carlos Ferraro about how difficult Sinner was to break down, the next he was whipping up his audience to inspire him to one of sport's finest comebacks. The figure he most closely resembled was Djokovic. Just as the Serb saved two championship points against Federer to win Wimbledon in 2019, Alcaraz had to save three before finally seeing off Sinner.
There were other reasons why he monopolised affections in Paris. As much as there was to admire in Sinner's play, it was also difficult to look beyond the issue of whether the Italian should have been in this tournament at all, with his three-month ban for two failed drug tests conveniently timed so that he did not miss a single major. Where every Alcaraz winner was wildly cheered by A-listers from Dustin Hoffman to Natalie Portman, Sinner drew little more than polite ripples for his own prodigious efforts. It appeared unfairly partisan at times, but it accurately reflected the two players' standings in the court of public opinion.
Only Alcaraz can explain how, at 3-5, 0-40 in a match he trailed by two sets to one, he contrived a way to win one hour and 45 minutes later. He possesses that rarest of gifts, the capacity always to save his most stirring of feats for the grandest occasions. Five wins in his first five Grand Slam finals? That is the mark of a champion destined to become an immortal. Better yet, he wears that aura with uncommon poise. After the court had emptied, one of his first gestures, having strained every sinew for this achievement, was to celebrate with the ball boys and girls.
Sinner exuded similar grace in the harshest circumstances. He was generous to Alcaraz in the aftermath, just as he had been sportsmanlike during the match over marginal line calls. While they might be polar opposites as characters, with Alcaraz's flamboyance the antithesis to Sinner's froideur, both carry themselves impeccably. Theirs, truly, is a tug-of-war to cherish.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Revealed: Carlos Alcaraz could lose HUGE chunk of £2.1m French Open prize money after defending his title with spectacular victory over world No 1 Jannik Sinner
Revealed: Carlos Alcaraz could lose HUGE chunk of £2.1m French Open prize money after defending his title with spectacular victory over world No 1 Jannik Sinner

Daily Mail​

time34 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Revealed: Carlos Alcaraz could lose HUGE chunk of £2.1m French Open prize money after defending his title with spectacular victory over world No 1 Jannik Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz could face missing out on an enormous chunk of his French Open prize money after his remarkable victory over Jannik Sinner. The 22-year-old defeated the world No 1 in an all-time classic five-and-a-half-hour contest at Roland Garros on Sunday. He came back from two sets down, defending three Championship points, before winning in the fifth set to seal his second consecutive French Open title. The Spaniard's fifth grand slam title earned him €2.55million (£2.13m) in prize money. However, he could be set to lose a huge portion of his winnings due to heavy French taxation laws. He could reportedly lose approximately 30 per cent of his earnings, potentially around £639,000. Tennis stars are taxed differently to many sports, with players paying tax depending on location they earn the money in regardless of their nationality, according to My Tennis HQ. 'After the players pay taxes to the local government where the prize money was earned, they do not have to pay income tax on it again when they return back home,' the publication explains. French Open stars split a prize pot of £47.3m, with runner up Sinner receieving €1.27 million (£1.07M). Meanwhile, Alcaraz has already earned over £30m in career earnings, picking up £2.8m this season before his Roland Garros prize. Despite his enormous windfall, Alcaraz previously admitted he doesn't spend big after every win. Speaking to the Tennis Channel ahead of the French Open, the 22-year-old said: 'Maybe not after every big win, but for example, at the Grand Slams, if I reach the semi-finals, I like to buy myself a new pair of sneakers. He added: 'If I feel like I had a good season, at the end of the year I'll buy myself a nice watch.' Alcaraz celebrated his stunning French Open win in a heartwarming moment with Roland Garros ball kids - after struggling to express how he had done it. 'I didn't know what I had to do to win this match at three match points down in the fourth,' said the No 2 seed after beating Jannik Sinner to defend his crown. 'Being two sets to love down against the world No 1, the level Jannik was playing… 'I just tried to keep it going, not thinking about the result, not thinking about anything, just fighting point after point. At the end of the fifth set I was playing with my heart.' In a fitting end to a jaw-dropping, five-hour marathon on Philippe Chatrier, Alcaraz took the time to share his success with a group of ball kids. A video posted by the official Roland Garros account on X showed the Spaniard being given a round of applause by ball kids lined up on either side of a staircase. He couldn't help but smile as he made his way down and then led the youngsters in an impromptu dance session, in which he pogoed on the spot.

Nevin picks out the best deals so far
Nevin picks out the best deals so far

BBC News

time41 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Nevin picks out the best deals so far

The mini transfer window has been interesting with some intriguing stories. Matheus Cunha to Manchester United seems to make some sense, certainly more that many of their transfer deals in the past few years. At least Cunha has proved he can do it in the Premier Delap had his pick of a few clubs because of his affordable £30 million buyout fee. Well done to the agent who got that written into his contract. Trent Alexander-Arnold is older but still big news. However, I do not think he is the most important deal done in this window thus was not too much fanfare following Dean Huijsen's £50million move from Bournemouth to Real Madrid but it is hard to imagine any other transferred player having the same long-term might have been tempted by him as the eventual replacement for Virgil van Dijk, but then Huijsen was unlikely to turn down Real, having already elected to represent Spain over his birth nation, the 20-year-old is a class act. It is very unusual for such a young centre-back to be so assured and mature. My suspicion has always been that he will be an enduring world star if he steers clear of major injuries. Trent grabbed much more attention in the short term, but Dean is more likely to be the long-term superstar Galactico in up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

Postecoglou's time at the top 'not finished'
Postecoglou's time at the top 'not finished'

BBC News

timean hour ago

  • BBC News

Postecoglou's time at the top 'not finished'

Ange Postecoglou has gone and although sorry, I am not even slightly surprised - it has been an awful domestic season for Spurs. I do not however think Ange's time at the top is finished, though he might have to look for a progressive continental club to reignite his CV is very good and that Europa League triumph for Spurs can never be taken away. He could also argue that his methods and style were hampered by a lack of backing in the transfer cannot play high tempo 'Ange Ball' unless you have a very deep squad with real quality, youth and energy in reserve. The players he wanted and needed could not be acquired by the club. Had he got Conor Gallagher as he wanted, it could have made a huge difference. Gallagher was born for 'Ange Ball' and would have helped everyone else around lift their is also the fact that Postecoglou wanted to buy Eberechi Eze and got Timo Werner on loan instead. I was going to explain this disparity further but if you know football at all, you have got the point already.I think Ange's ideals mirror the way the game is evolving. His coaching ethos is closer to Paris St-Germain than those languishing in the past overplaying post-Pep course, this idea will be laughed at right now, but I recall being one of very few that thought Manchester United were mad to get rid of David Moyes. Spurs have lost a good coach, a far better one than most people think he is just up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store