For months, everyone has been wondering how to stop Carlos Alcaraz.
In Madrid, where the Spanish 19-year-old wrapped up his preparations for Roland Garros a fortnight ago with a tour-leading fourth title of the year, neither Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic nor Alexander Zverev could do it.
There was little reason to believe that Albert Ramos-Viñolas, a seasoned dirt-baller who gives little away but lacks the blazing firepower of his younger compatriot, would succeed where they – and all but three of Alcaraz’s previous 32 opponents – had failed.
Yet in the fourth set of an absorbing and dramatic contest, the wily 34-year-old held a match point that promised to send shockwaves through the draw. The chance went begging, as did the set, but Ramos-Viñolas kept coming, establishing a 3-0 lead in the decider, and Alcaraz needed all his brio and fighting spirit to survive, finally prevailing 6-1, 6-7 (7-9), 5-7, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 in four hours and 34 minutes.
“It was tough, saving match ball is always tough, but I believe in myself,” said Alcaraz, the sixth seed. “I’m still young, but I would say a pretty experienced player now. I feel comfortable playing in big stadiums, big matches, playing in a grand slam. Physically I’m strong, mentally I’m strong as well. I think I’m ready to play these kinds of matches, in these situations.”
Whether one can ever be entirely ready for the singular challenge of facing Ramos-Viñolas on a clay court is a moot point. After taking a first-set hammering, the world No 44 slowly ensnared his compatriot in a web of carefully-worked angles, southpaw serves and heavy topspin forehands. It was as though he had told the younger man, “You go ahead son, I’ll catch up” – confident that the Alcaraz storm would eventually blow itself out and that, when it did, he would be fresh enough not merely to draw level, but to overtake.
That is almost exactly what happened, Alcaraz’s unforced errors gradually catching up with his winners until, by the end, the two statistics effectively cancelled each other out, equal at 74 apiece. Had Ramos-Viñolas not faltered as he attempted to apply the coup de grâce at 5-4 in the fourth set, clipping the net tape with a rushed forehand as his patience momentarily deserted him, Alcaraz’s unbeaten run may well have been over. Instead, handed a reprieve, the teenager fought for his life.
No longer able to batter his opponent into submission, Alcaraz fell back on his extraordinary defensive skills. His court coverage was astonishing, never more so than when he retrieved an early break in the decider by sprinting on to a seemingly irretrievable angled volley to steer a backhand pass down the line. The befuddled Ramos-Viñolas could only look on in disbelief.
Ultimately, it was strength of character that carried Alcaraz through. His self-belief, his infectious passion, his charisma. He didn’t just orchestrate the Court Simonne Mathieu crowd, he ignited them. That was never more apparent than when he broke in the penultimate game with another extraordinary display of athleticism, chasing down ball after ball, side to side, until the despairing Ramos-Viñolas finally missed a volley. The eruption of delight in the stadium was spontaneous, powerful – almost personal, as though behind every joyous expression and look of wonderment lay personal investment, skin in the game. Such is the Alcaraz effect.
“I just tried to get the point,” said Alcaraz, for whom plenty more running lies ahead in the next round against Sebastian Korda, the rising American who beat him in Monte Carlo. “It was a great point at the end of the fifth. Long match. To be able to run like this and get the point like I did is amazing.”
On a day of drama in the men’s draw at Roland Garros, Alcaraz was not alone in his escapology. Zverev, seeded third and projected to meet the Spaniard in the quarter-finals, likewise survived by the skin of his teeth, edging past Sebastian Baez of Argentina 2-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 7-5 after saving a match point in the fifth set.
“You just have to find a way,” said Zverev, who clawed his way back from two sets to love down before finding a big serve just when he most needed it to deny Baez victory in the 10th game of the decider.
“You talk about mental strength, you talk about some players, the greats, Roger [Federer], Rafa [Nadal], Novak [Djokovic], they always find a way in the most difficult moments. That’s why they are who they are. I’m never going to be on their level, but I’m trying to get closer to them.”
As if to emphasise the point, Djokovic and Nadal both came through in straight sets.
Djokovic, the world No 1, saw off Alex Molcan of Slovakia, a clay-court specialist coached by his former mentor Marian Vajda, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).
“I’m pleased with the way I’m feeling on the court, the way I have been striking the ball,” said Djokovic. “It was never going to be an easy match, but I thought I performed very well. The third set, I was a break up and I allowed him to come back.
“Nevertheless I held my nerve and played well in the tiebreak. I’m just glad to play the way I have been playing the first two rounds. Everything is going in the right direction.”
The same can be said for Nadal, who defeated Corentin Moutet of France 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 to earn his 300th grand slam victory.
“I’m happy I am through in three sets, that’s an important fact for me and that gives me the chance to keep working tomorrow and try to be ready for after tomorrow against a tough opponent,” said Nadal, who will continue his quest for a 14th title against Botic van de Zandschulp in round three.