Blown Call Helps Carlos Alcaraz Win French Open Title Over Alexander Zverev

The last thing any sport wants to see, especially in a championship, is a controversial call that has a massive impact on the result. Well, that's what happened in Carlos Alcarez's French Open victory over Alexander "Sascha" Zverev. 

The match itself was incredible. The young phenom Carlos Alcaraz continues to show why he might be the best tennis player in the world at just 21 years old. The French Open victory is the third Grand Slam win of his career, and the third major tennis tournament he's captured (US Open, 2022 and Wimbledon, 2023). 

Zverev is  chasing that elusive first Grand Slam tournament victory, and one particular moment in the French Open final against Alacaraz is probably one that's going to haunt him for a long time. 

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain celebrates a point against Alexander Zverev of Germany during the Men's Singles Final match of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros.

(Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

The third-seeded Alcaraz won the first set, 6-3, before Zverev came roaring back with wins in both the second and third sets (6-2, 7-5). Alcaraz cruised easily in the fourth set, winning 6-1, to set up a decisive final set. 

Both men held serve over the first two games before Alcaraz broke through with a third-game break of Zverev. But Zverev appeared to have broken Alcaraz right back in the fourth game. With Zverev leading the game 40-15, Alcaraz appeared to double-fault to give Zverev the game. Officials initially ruled the service "out." 

However, the umpire came onto the court, checked the mark where the ball landed and reversed the call, ruling that the serve was actually "in." Zverev nearly lost it to the official, clearly yelling that the ball was out. 

Based on the replay, it looks like Zverev was correct and should have been awarded the game. 

Instead, the point was considered to be a "do-over," which Alcaraz promptly won before eventually capturing the game to take a 3-1 lead in the deciding set. 

Zverev had other opportunities, but eventually Alcaraz wore him down, broke him again later in the set and captured the French Open title with a 6-2 final set win. 

Alcaraz will have to wait until next year to get the career Grand Slam – he needs an Australian Open victory to achieve it – but he'll have a chance to defend last year's Wimbledon title next month. 

He might not have to face Novak Djokovic, who he beat in the final last year, after Djokovic underwent knee surgery following an injury during the French Open. 

For Zverev, he's left to wonder "what might have been."