Key events
Preamble
Salut tout le monde and bienvenue à Roland-Garros 2024 – le finale hommes!
2004 feels like a long time ago – partly because the world has changed a lot since then, but mainly because, er … it is? Which makes it all the more mind-boggling that it was also the last time we had a French Open final that didn’t include him, him or him – award yourself the reward of your choice if you immediately thought yes of course, Gastón Gaudio beat Guillermo Coria 8-6 in the fifth after losing the first two sets 0-6 3-6.
And a further treat is all yours if you can recall that the following year, it was Mariano Puerta – yes that’s the Mariano Puerta – losing to 19-year-old debutant Rafael Nadal. Now, though, we’ve an entirely different set of dynastic hopefuls – the Alcaraz-Sinner semi felt like epochal change – two of whom will annihilate themselves for our delectation this afternoon.
Alcaraz is one of the most compelling entertainers our sport has ever seen, a good vibes John McEnroe with joy and love wafting from every pore. But make no mistake: much as we’d all love to cuddle him, he remains an absolute killer, his artist’s imagination backed up by the exhibition viciousness of a ninja’s forehand and and the certainty that when he needs to get it done, he can.
Alexander Zverev, on the other hand, was lucky enough to face “only” Dominic Thiem in his only other major final and went up two sets … then lost in a fifth-set tiebreak. He’s improved a lot since then, though, his first serve and backhand two of the best shots in the game, and retains unbelievable belief in his ability despite a dicky second serve and forehand.
Alcaraz, though, is particularly brilliant with his forehand cross-court and forehand inside-in, shots perfect for attacking his opponent’s weak wing, and if he keeps the head the likelihood is he gets it done. But no player boasting weapons as damaging as Zverev’s can be discounted, so it’s les yeux baissés for what could be the first of many classics.
Play: 2.30pm local, 1.30pm BST
