Latest news with #RolandGarros.The
India Today
a day ago
- Sport
- India Today
Carlos Alcaraz captures Nadal's Roland Garros footprint: Explains gesture
Carlos Alcaraz paused during his warm-up ahead of his French Open semi-final against Lorenzo Musetti to take a photo of Rafael Nadal's commemorative footprint plaque at Court Philippe-Chatrier. The quiet gesture was a tribute to his childhood idol — a player whose legacy looms large at Roland plaque, installed earlier this year, features Nadal's famous footprint and a replica of the French Open trophy. It honours the Spaniard's incredible 14-title record at the tournament and has become a symbolic spot for players and fans. Alcaraz's respectful gesture, which was caught on camera, quickly went viral and struck a chord with tennis fans around the the video here:Carlos Alcaraz takes a photo of Rafa Nadal's footprint on Philippe-Chatrier ahead of his Roland Garros semifinalLove The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 6, 2025"I think it was the first time I was able to warm up before the match here at Chatrier, so I tried to make the most of the time. I took the time to take a photo of it. Seeing a bit of Rafa Nadal at Philippe Chatrier while I play is a great inspiration," Alcaraz said after the Musetti semi-final. "I try not to think too much about it during the match, but in tough matches, I think about the effort and level of Rafa, how he constantly fights. He never gives up. I try to think about that and try to do it myself. The only thing I can do is keep a memory of that Rafa Nadal plaque," he after the moment, Alcaraz advanced to his second consecutive French Open final. His opponent Musetti retired early in the fourth set due to a thigh injury. Musetti had taken the first set 6-4, but Alcaraz bounced back to win the next two and was leading 2-0 in the fourth when the match ended.A sad ending to a thrilling encounterAlcaraz is back in the Roland-Garros final as Musetti is forced to retire. #RolandGarros Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2025advertisementDespite a tough start, Alcaraz shifted gears in the second set, dominating the rallies with his movement and aggressive play. The match was shaping up to be a thrilling battle before the injury cut it has often credited Nadal as his biggest inspiration and has embraced comparisons to the 'King of Clay.' Many now see him as Nadal's natural successor at Roland Garros — and his quiet tribute before the semi-final was a symbolic nod to that passing of the torch.
India Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
Aryna Sabalenka hungry for maiden French Open title: 'It would mean the world'
Aryna Sabalenka is ready to fight for every point to win her first major title on clay as she takes on Coco Gauff in the final of the French Open 2025. Sabalenka beat Iga witek 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-0 in the semi-final at Philippe-Chatrier court to enter her maiden final at Roland three-time Grand Slam winner has won all her majors at hard courts and hence is eager to finally win her maiden title on clay. Following her clinical victory in the semi final, Sabalenka expressed her desire to win her first French Open title saying that it would mean the world to her to win her first title on 27-year-old recalled how she was told that she wouldn't succeed on clay courts but worked hard to develop her game and now enjoys playing on them. 'It's gonna mean everything to me and my team. Almost my whole life I've been told that clay courts are not my thing. I didn't have any confidence in the past.. I don't know how many years.. we've been able to develop my game so much. I feel really comfortable on this surface and I actually enjoy playing on clay. If I'll be able to get this trophy, it's just gonna mean the world for us. I'm ready to go in that final and fight for every point. Give everything I have to give to get the win,' Sabalenka said in the post-match press will take on Coco Gauff in the final scheduled to be played on Saturday, June 7. Gauff sealed her spot in the final with a dominant victory over Lois Boisson, who stunned Mirra Andreeva in the quarter finals. Gauff and Sabalenka have faced each other ten times so far and have won five matches each. Sabalenka recently beat Gauff in the final of the Madrid Open 2025, which was also played on the clay she will carry that confidence into the blockbuster clash against her American rival as both compete for their maiden French Open Reel
India Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
French Open: Merciless Carlos Alcaraz makes easy work of Tommy Paul to reach semis
Carlos Alcaraz was in no mood to negotiate. The defending French Open champion delivered a ruthless performance under the lights of Court Philippe-Chatrier on Tuesday, dismantling American Tommy Paul 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 to book his place in the semifinals of Roland reigning Roland-Garros champion lived up to his billing as the favourite, delivering his most complete display of the tournament so far. From the outset, the Spaniard set a blistering pace, overwhelming Paul with a combination of power, precision, and flair that left the American raced through the opening set in just 25 minutes, sealing it 6-0 and setting the tone for what would be a one-sided contest. Paul managed to hold serve to open the second set, but that was the extent of his resistance. Alcaraz responded by winning six straight games, taking the second set 6-1 with ease. The third set saw Paul offer some resistance, edging ahead 2-1 and later drawing level at 4-4, but the Spaniard remained composed. With unrelenting intensity and faultless execution, Alcaraz closed out the match 6-4, sealing a straight-sets victory in under two hours. MASTERCLASS #RolandGarros Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 3, 2025The win extended Alcaraz's unbeaten run on clay to 11 matches this season, improving his overall record on the surface to 20-1. He now leads the ATP Tour with 35 match wins and three titles in 2025, underlining his dominance during the clay this victory, Alcaraz also became the first defending men's champion at Roland-Garros to return to the semi-finals the following year since Rafael Nadal in 2021. The Spaniard will now face Italy's Lorenzo Musetti in the last four, after the eighth seed defeated Frances Tiafoe in four sets earlier in the a semi-finalist at the 2023 Australian Open, had enjoyed an impressive run in Paris, becoming the first American man to reach the quarter-finals here in over two decades. Alongside Tiafoe, he also helped end a 29-year wait for two American men to feature in the last eight at Roland-Garros in the same against Alcaraz, there was little either could have done. With his mix of raw talent, court intelligence and competitive fire, the Spaniard is making an emphatic case to retain his crown in Paris — and perhaps usher in a new era of dominance on the red Watch
BBC News
15-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Alcaraz battles past Quinn into Barcelona last 16
Carlos Alcaraz was forced to work hard to beat underdog Ethan Quinn to reach the Barcelona Open last 16 on world number two was a break down in the second set against Quinn, ranked 126th in the world, before fighting back to win 6-2 7-6 (8-6).After saving five break points and breaking Quinn twice in the opening set, Alcaraz was pushed much harder by the 21-year-old American in the players exchanged breaks on three occasions and Alcaraz, 21, had to save a set point in the tie-break before finally winning through."I made some mistakes, I found it hard to maintain my level, but I am happy to have solved the problems that came in the second set, and to end up winning in two sets," Alcaraz told TVE. Alcaraz is building up to the start of the French Open later this month, where he is aiming to win his third title at Roland Spaniard, who won on clay at the Monte Carlo Masters last week, missed last year's French Open due to injury after winning in 2022 and defending Barcelona champion Casper Ruud sailed into the last 16 with a 6-4 6-3 win over Colombia's Daniel Elahi world number 10 Rudd, who has not won a tournament yet this season, hit 25 winners and did not face a set year's runner up Stefanos Tsitsipas, the world number 16, beat Reilly Opelka 6-2 6-2.
