Carlos Alcaraz paid a touching tribute to his supportive parents after completing his childhood dream and winning the French Open. The world No. 3’s mum and dad were in Court Philippe-Chatrier to watch him lift his third Grand Slam trophy.
The 21-year-old explained that Roland Garros was the tournament he rushed home to watch after school as a young boy.
And he captured his first trophy on the Parisian clay in a gritty five-set comeback against Alexander Zverev.
Alcaraz became the youngest player to win Grand Slams across all three surfaces as he was crowned the champion at Roland Garros on Sunday, already having Wimbledon and US Open titles under his belt. He first visited the tournament as a 12-year-old in 2015, competing in a junior tournament and saying he wanted to win the French Open and Wimbledon.
Throughout the fortnight, the Spaniard shared his memories of watching the tournament from home as a kid. After lifting the trophy, he told the story again as he thanked his parents in an emotional victory speech.
“I want to talk a little bit about my family as well. I’m glad to have part of my family here,” Alcaraz said after winning 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2. “My dad, my mum, brothers, a lot of family over there. For me it’s amazing to have you here supporting me.”
The 21-year-old was especially proud to lift the trophy in front of them after watching the French Open on TV while growing up. He continued: “But the times that you are not here in the tournaments supporting me in real life, I know that you are supporting me from the TV at home so all the support that you are giving to me, it’s amazing.
“Since I was a little kid, as I said many times, I was running from school to put the TV on to watch this tournament on the TV, now I am lifting the trophy in front of all of you. So thank you very much for everything and all the journey.”
Alcaraz thanked his team, including his coach and former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero, after coming into the French Open as a huge question mark. The Spaniard picked up a forearm injury during the clay swing and only played one warm-up tournament in Madrid.
“My team, it has been incredible work the last month, we were struggling a lot with the injury. Coming back to Madrid, didn’t feel well and then the next weeks with a lot of doubts. Coming here, practising not too much hours on the court,” he smiled.
The world No. 3 also claimed that his support camp felt like a family, adding: “I’m really grateful to have the team that I have, the people that I have around and I know that everyone in my team is giving their heart just to make me improve as a player, as a person, to grow up. So I’m really grateful and I call you a team but it’s a family so thank you very much.”