Alcaraz has orchestrated incredible turnarounds in Grand Slam events; his victory over Sinner in last year’s French Open final, where he saved three championship points, stands out as perhaps the most remarkable.
However, the satisfaction derived from this particular triumph, considering his physical state, will be equally profound.
Alcaraz remained near the baseline, internally chanting “gradually, Charly, let’s go” in an effort to summon renewed vigor towards the end of the fourth set.
Prior to the onset of cramps, Alcaraz demonstrated greater courage. He dictated the exchanges, opting for powerful strokes; his final tally of 78 winners compared to Zverev’s 56 underscored the effectiveness of his aggressive play in crucial moments.
Zverev performed commendably, yet he lacked sufficient decisiveness during critical junctures.
Alcaraz struggled to move effectively by the close of the third set, but Zverev committed unforced errors from the compromised serve and seldom challenged him effectively at the net.
On two separate occasions, Zverev held a 0-30 advantage on the Spaniard’s service game, aiming to extend the match to a fifth set. Both times, Alcaraz, spurred by the spectators, managed to hold his serve, subsequently delivering a love game to push the fourth set into a tie-break.
Nevertheless, Zverev capitalized on Alcaraz’s struggling serve during the tie-break and once more in the initial game of the fifth set, establishing an immediate lead by breaking serve.
Yet, the German has a history of faltering at pivotal junctures, meaning his advantage by a break never seemed secure.
Energized by the audience, Alcaraz secured a break to level the match on serve, subsequently exploiting Zverev’s apprehension as the German served at 6-5 behind, attempting to force a 10-point tie-break, only to face yet another crushing defeat.
“I consistently assert the importance of self-belief, regardless of circumstances,” Alcaraz stated.
“I would not be standing here presently without the support of these individuals [the spectators]. The manner in which you propelled me back into contention on each point is astonishing.”
