Top Five Most Epic Comebacks by Carlos Alcaraz on Tour

“Victory belongs to the most tenacious,” reads the inscription carved into Court Philippe Chatrier at Stade Roland Garros. Few embody that spirit more fully than Carlos Alcaraz. The 22-year-old Spaniard has become a symbol of perseverance, repeatedly proving that mental resilience can be as decisive as talent.

Since turning professional in 2018, Alcaraz has earned a reputation for his explosive athleticism and unshakeable grit, especially when the pressure is at its peak. While many players falter in the face of adversity, Alcaraz often thrives—staging remarkable comebacks through sheer willpower and unwavering focus.

Time and again, he’s ignored the scoreboard and rewritten the script, turning likely defeats into memorable victories. 

Here are five of Carlos Alcaraz’s most impressive comebacks—a testament to his relentless determination and refusal to surrender on the court.

5. Madrid Open – May 2022

In May 2022, just days after turning 19, Carlos Alcaraz faced world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in a highly anticipated semifinal clash at the Madrid Open—an ATP Masters 1000 event and their first career meeting. The young Spaniard, who was still months away from capturing his maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open, delivered a stunning performance. After dropping the first set in a tight tiebreak, Alcaraz fought back to defeat the reigning French Open champion 6-7(5), 7-5, 7-6(5), becoming the first player to beat both Rafael Nadal and Djokovic at the same clay-court event.

Riding the momentum, Alcaraz powered past Alexander Zverev in the final with a dominant 6-3, 6-1 win in just 62 minutes. The victory secured his first Masters 1000 title on clay and his second of the season following his triumph in Miami.

4. Wimbledon – July 2023

The 2023 Wimbledon final between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic marked their first Grand Slam showdown — and it delivered on every front. In a thrilling five-set battle, the young Spaniard stunned Djokovic, denying him a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title and a chance to match Roger Federer’s historic tally at the All England Club.

Alcaraz triumphed 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, claiming the championship at just 20 years old. With the victory, he became the third-youngest men’s singles champion at Wimbledon, behind only Boris Becker and Björn Borg. Djokovic, meanwhile, was forced to wait for his 24th Grand Slam title — a milestone he eventually reached at the US Open later that year.

3. French Open – June 2024

Carlos Alcaraz battled past Alexander Zverev in a thrilling five-set final to win his first French Open title in 2024. The Spaniard prevailed 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 after four hours and 19 minutes on court, denying Zverev his first Grand Slam trophy.

This victory marks Alcaraz’s third Grand Slam title overall, and at just 21 years and one month old, he becomes the youngest man in history to win majors on all three surfaces: hard, grass, and clay.

The win was particularly sweet for Alcaraz, as it not only avenged his loss to Zverev in four sets at the 2024 Australian Open but also came after a difficult lead-up to the tournament. A right-hand injury had sidelined him for three weeks before the clay season, raising doubts about his form and fitness.

Yet, Alcaraz proved once again why he’s one of the most exciting talents in the sport—showing resilience, flair, and championship grit on one of tennis’s biggest stages.

2. Wimbledon – July 2024

Carlos Alcaraz and Frances Tiafoe battled through another thrilling five-set encounter, with momentum swinging back and forth throughout the match. Tiafoe edged ahead by breaking Alcaraz for a 2-1 lead in the third set, but the Spaniard, known for his resilience, refused to back down. Alcaraz stormed through the fourth-set tiebreak and carried that momentum into the decider, ultimately sealing a hard-fought 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 victory after three hours and 50 minutes on court. Remarkably, it marked the second consecutive five-set showdown between the two electrifying talents.

Their semifinal clash in 2022, which Alcaraz won in a grueling five-set battle — 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 — lasted nearly four and a half hours. He went on to claim his first Wimbledon title, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final.

This time, Alcaraz made quick work of the Serbian great, securing a straight-sets victory — 6-2, 7-6(2), 7-6(4) — in just two hours and 30 minutes. With this title run at SW19, Alcaraz completed the coveted Channel Slam, having lifted the French Open trophy just two weeks earlier.

1. French Open – June 2025

Carlos Alcaraz delivered a career-defining performance at the Roland Garros final, saving three championship points to defeat World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in a five-set epic. In one of the most dramatic matches in recent Grand Slam history, Alcaraz rallied from two sets down to claim a 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) victory—his first-ever comeback win from such a deficit.

After a grueling five-hour and 29-minute marathon final, he joined Roger Federer (7) as only the second man in the Open Era to win his first five finals.

Alcaraz was chasing what seemed an improbable victory, yet history was on his side—he had never lost a five-set match against the Italian. Trailing 3-5 and facing a triple break point at 0-40 in the fourth set, the Spaniard staged a remarkable comeback, forcing a tie-break that turned the tide. What followed was one of the greatest escape acts in ATP history. Since 2000, Alcaraz became only the third man to win at Roland Garros after dropping the opening two sets.

Cover Credits - ESPN India