King of Clay congratulates the Prince of Paris

Carlos Alcaraz’s remarkable victory at Roland Garros was celebrated by none other than Rafael Nadal, the Spanish legend who has claimed a record 14 titles at the French Open. Nadal congratulated Alcaraz on social media after his grueling five-set win over Alexander Zverev, hailing the triumph as “immense.” In a heartfelt post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Nadal expressed his joy for Alcaraz’s achievement, saying, “Very happy for your successes!”

Nadal, who suffered a surprising first-round exit to Zverev this year, has not confirmed whether this was his last appearance at the clay-court major. Despite his early exit, Nadal’s support for his fellow Spaniard was unwavering, highlighting the strong sense of camaraderie among Spanish tennis players.

By overcoming Zverev, Alcaraz not only avenged Nadal’s defeat but also became the seventh Spanish man to win the French Open in the Open Era. At just 21 years old, he is the youngest player to secure Grand Slam titles on all surfaces. His victory comes 21 years after his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, claimed the Roland Garros title in 2003, just a month after Alcaraz was born.
https://x.com/RafaelNadal/status/1799859897376608753?s=19
Reflecting on his victory, Alcaraz emphasized the significance of winning a tournament so cherished by Spanish players. “Every Slam has its own significance, but this one is very special for all the Spanish players and people,” Alcaraz said. “We’ve seen not just Rafa Nadal, but many great Spanish players lift this trophy. To win it myself is unbelievable.”

Alcaraz expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from Spanish fans. “I used to rush home from school to watch Rafa and this tournament on TV,” he recalled. “It’s an incredible feeling to lift the trophy today. I owe a big thank you to all the Spanish supporters. The support has been unbelievable, and this trophy is for them as well.”

With his Roland Garros triumph, Alcaraz has firmly established himself as a rising star in tennis, following in the footsteps of his idol, Rafael Nadal.