Carlos Alcaraz has promised to consult his father before getting a new tattoo to commemorate his latest French Open triumph. The young Spaniard fought back from two sets down to beat Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s historic final. It lasted five hours and 29 minutes, making it the second-longest Grand Slam final in the Open era.
Alcaraz was on the brink of defeat in the fourth set, when Sinner had three championship points, but he saved every one to force a decider. It boiled down to a fifth-set tiebreak, with Alcaraz prevailing to defend his title against the odds. It has already been touted as the greatest French Open final in history and will live long in the memory of tennis fans around the world.
After winning his maiden title at Roland Garros last year, Alcaraz celebrated his achievement by getting a tattoo of the Eiffel Tower. He is yet to make plans for a second one, though, saying: “I mean… I have to ask my father.”
Alcaraz has several other tattoos, including the date of his maiden Grand Slam triumph at the US Open in 2022. He also has a strawberry to mark his two Wimbledon titles and plans to get a kangaroo if he wins the Australian Open.
Speaking in Melbourne earlier this year before losing to Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals, Alcaraz said: “I will get a kangaroo [tattoo] for sure, that’s my idea. The only thing missing is to lift the trophy here, but it’s definitely the plan if it happens.”
Alcaraz has a great deal of appreciation for his family and will be hoping for the green light from his father when it comes to planning his next ink.
His grandfather has also played a key role in his success, with his advice helping Alcaraz to dig deep in the French Open final.
In an interview with Eurosport, the champion explained: “I played with my grandfather’s three Cs,” referring to cabeza (head), corazon (heart) and cojones (balls).
“My grandfather is proud. Cojones! After the match I played, I think I can say that. To put into words what just happened is really difficult, honestly. Two sets down against the No 1, with the level that he was playing.
“I just put my heart into it and tried to keep it going. Never gave up. I was just fighting, point after point. In the end, it was all heart.”