Rafael Nadal salutes Carlos Alcaraz as he claims his crown as French Open king

Carlos Alcaraz is the new ‘King of Clay’ after his thrilling win at the French Open – and the outgoing icon who has held that title for almost two decades was quick to pay tribute.

Alcaraz’s thrilling 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1 win against Alexander Zverev gave him a first title at Roland Garros… and now he has just 13 more to collect before he matches the remarkable record of his Spanish compatriot Nadal.

The victory for Alcaraz saw Nadal’s great rival Novak Djokovic demoted to No 3 in the ATP Rankings when it is updated on Monday, with Italy’s Jannik Sinner taking over at the top and Alcaraz pushing Djokovic down to No 3.

It didn’t take long for the tributes to start flowing for Alcaraz, with Nadal celebrating his success with a post on his social media accounts.

Nadal not be alone in pouring praise on Alcaraz, who admitted his win at Roland Garros may be the highlight of his career so far.

He may have already won the US Open and Wimbledon, but this was the tournament he dreamed about winning as a kid and that is why it will mean so much more.

“Obviously winning the US Open, when I reached for the first time the No 1, something that I dreamed of since I started playing tennis, getting my first Grand Slam. So it was pretty special,” said Alcaraz in his press conference.

John McEnroe compares Carlos Alcaraz to ‘Big 3’ as he claims French Open glory

“Honestly, the way that I won Wimbledon, beating Novak Djokovic in five sets, has been a great achievement for me.

“Right now lifting the Roland Garros trophy, knowing everything that I have been through the last month with the injuries and all that stuff, I don’t know.

“Probably this one. Probably this one is the moment that I’m really proud about myself, because everything that I have done the last month just to be ready for this tournament with my team, a lot of talks with them.

“You know, if I have to practice, if I can’t practice or discuss with them, it has been really difficult for me, honestly. So I’m going to say this one is the most that I am proud about myself.”

Alcaraz went on to confirm he will mark his Roland Garros win with another tattoo, this time of the Eiffel Tower.

He already has the dates of his previous Grand Slam wins, at the 2022 US Open and Wimbledon last year – along with a strawberry – inked on an arm and a leg.

“I have to find the time. But I will do it for sure. It’s going to be on the left ankle,” he stated.

“You know, Wimbledon was the right one. Here is going to be the left one, I think so with the Eiffel Tower with the date of today. And, yeah, it’s something that I’m gonna do.

“I don’t know if next week or a month or two months, but I will do it.”

Alcaraz watched the French Open, and his hero Nadal, as a child and always seemed destined to win it one day.

“In Roland Garros, knowing all the Spanish players who have won this tournament and to be able to put my name on that amazing list is something unbelievable,” he added.

“It’s something that I dreamt about, being in this position, since I started playing tennis, since I was five, six years old. So it’s a great, great feeling.”