Carlos Alcaraz's top five best comebacks on tour

Carlos Alcaraz now leads 5-0 in Grand Slam finals after winning the Roland Garros title.

“Victory belongs to the most tenacious,” reads the line carved into Court Philippe Chatrier, centre court at the Stade Roland Garros complex. Carlos Alcaraz is a living example of perseverance. He has bounced back from difficult situations many times.

The 22-year-old Alcaraz quickly built a reputation for his on-court athleticism and grit when the chips are down. The Spaniard is adept at handling pressure and keeping his composure even in situations where other players would give up.

He has scripted quite a few turnarounds since turning pro in 2018, thanks to his refusal to concede while ignoring the scoreboard. Alcaraz’s top five best comebacks highlight his unyielding nature on the tennis court.

Madrid Open – May 2022

Carlos Alcaraz, who turned 19 in May 2022, faced then world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the Madrid Open. The ATP 1000 event was the stage for the first career meeting between the Spaniard and the Serb. Alcaraz was a few months away from winning the US Open – his first Grand Slam title. 

Despite losing the first set to Djokovic, Alcaraz rallied to upset the French Open defending champion 6-7(5), 7-5, 7-6(5) to reach the final. Alcaraz defeated Alexander Zverev in the title round, 6-3, 6-1, in just 62 minutes for his first Masters 1000 title on clay and second of the season after Miami.   

Wimbledon – July 2023

The 2023 Wimbledon final between Alcaraz and Djokovic was the first on the Grand Slam stage, and it lived up to its expectations. The Spaniard denied Djokovic his eighth Wimbledon title and a chance to equal Roger Federer. 

Alcaraz took the win 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 to become the Wimbledon champion at 20 and the third youngest player to lift the singles trophy at SW19 after Boris Becker and Bjorn Borg. Djokovic, meanwhile, was made to wait for his 24th Grand Slam trophy, which he won at the US Open later that year. 

French Open – June 2024

Alcaraz outlasted Alexander Zverev in the 2024 edition of the French Open for his maiden trophy in the French capital. The Spaniard ground out a 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 in four hours and 19 minutes to deny the German a maiden Grand Slam win. It was Alcaraz’s third major title, and at 21 years and one month old, it made him the youngest man to win a Grand Slam on three different surfaces.  

Alcaraz fought back to neutralise Zverev’s two sets to one lead and avenge his four-set loss to the German in the 2024 Australian Open. It was their first meeting at a major. His bid to win the title in Paris is significant in the context of the injury he suffered before the clay court major – a right-hand injury kept him out for three weeks.

Wimbledon – July 2024

Alcaraz and Frances Tiafoe traded sets, with the American breaking the Spaniard for a 2-1 lead in the third set. Alcaraz, not the kind to give in, dominated the fourth set tie-break to secure the win 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 in three hours and 50 minutes. It was the second consecutive meeting between the duo that went the distance. 

Their semifinal match in 2022, which Alcaraz won 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1, 6-7(5), 63, lasted nearly four and a half hours. Alcaraz went on to retain his Wimbledon crown, once again at the expense of Novak Djokovic.

On this occasion, it was a straight win for Alcaraz, 6-2, 7-2, 7-6(4) in two hours and 30 minutes. With the title run at SW19, Alcaraz completed the elusive Channel Slam milestone, having won the French Open title two weeks before.

French Open – June 2025

Carlos Alcaraz reached another level as he fought off triple match point to defeat reigning World No. 1 Jannik Sinner at the Roland Garros final. In an epic five-set encounter, Alcatraz defeated Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2)  for his first win from two sets down.

Following the marathon final that clocked five hours and 29 minutes, he joined Roger Federer (7) as only the second man in the Open Era to win his first five finals.

Alcaraz was seeking an improbable victory despite history being on his side. He was yet to lose a five-set match to the Italian. The Spaniard, trailing 3-5, 0-40 in the fourth set, forced a tie-break, and the rest is history. It was one of the greatest escape acts in ATP history. Alcaraz is just the third man this century to win in Roland Garros since 2000 after losing the opening two sets. 

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