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Reuters

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Reuters

Is there anything Carlos Alcaraz cannot do in his tennis career? At just 21, the Spanish sensation is already winning hearts with his impressive performances on the court. As a result, he has often drawn comparisons to his idol, Rafael Nadal. Minutes ago, he scripted a historic victory over Jannik Sinner in the semifinal of the French Open in a close and thrilling encounter. With this, he left not only Nadal behind but also the likes of Andre Agassi and Mats Wilander.

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Alcaraz is just 21 years and 1 month old. However, he has already reached the final of the Wimbledon Championships and the US Open before today. With his win over Sinner, Alcaraz also reached the summit clash of the French Open and in the process, became the youngest player to reach the final on all three surfaces at Grand Slam level.

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Although Sinner gave his all, Alcaraz produced some wonderful tennis at crucial junctures to win the thrilling match. In the process, he joined the exclusive club, boasting the likes of Agassi and Nadal. While Alcaraz is just 21 years and 1 month old in reaching the final on all 3 surfaces in majors, Agassi was a year older than him in achieving this feat. Bjorn Borg followed Alcaraz and Agassi at 22 years and 2 months, followed by Nadal at 22 years and 6 months.

Meanwhile, there were injury concerns in both the camps as Alcaraz and Sinner continued fighting. Following his win, the Spanish tennis sensation had a heartwarming message despite his ‘suffering.’

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Carlos Alcaraz wants to ‘enjoy suffering’

The climatic conditions in Paris have swung in opposite direction as the days progressed at the French Open. While the initial days saw rain interruptions, it has been hot and humid lately. As a result, the climate hasn’t been easy for the players to adjust to. Additionally, Sinner and Alcaraz also entered the semifinal amid injury concerns.

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Thus, when the interviewer thanked them on putting up a great show despite their struggles, Alcaraz had a wonderful response. He said, “You have to find the joy in suffering. That’s the key. Even more here on clay at Roland Garros. Long rallies. 4 hour matches. 5 sets. You have to fight and suffer. As I talked with my team many times, you have to enjoy suffering.”

It is Alcaraz’s best showing here and he will await the winner of the match between Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev in the summit clash. Can Alcaraz win this year’s French Open title? Let us know your views in the comments below.

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Vatsal Shah

3,705 Articles

Vatsal Shah is a tennis journalist at EssentiallySports, covering ATP and WTA storylines from the ES Trends Desk since 2023. He delivers breaking insights on major tournaments and player arcs, decoding tactical shifts and viral moments into accessible takeaways for fans worldwide. His coverage of Taylor Townsend’s Dubai title win stood out for capturing both the emotional significance of her victory and the context of her comeback.

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Arunima Bhanot

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