Carlos Alcaraz is Turning Heads After French Open Announcement
There's a reason Carlos Alcaraz is gaining popularity as the "Prince of Clay" — a nickname widely seen as a sign that he's following the "King of Clay," Rafael Nadal, as the next Spanish conqueror of the tennis clay surface.
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On Sunday, Alcaraz beat American star Ben Shelton in a thrilling four-set affair, 7-6(8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. It wasn't an easy match for the No. 2 seed, who had a hard time countering Shelton's precise shots and cross-court returns.
In fact, during the second set, Shelton delivered a strong return that Alcaraz appeared to send back and got a point for. However, the World No. 2 approached the umpire and admitted that he wasn't holding his racket when it made contact with the ball — which is not allowed.
Shelton was awarded the point, while Alcaraz earned the respect of the Roland-Garros crowd for his class and sportsmanship. Still, it further highlighted how Shelton made things difficult for Alcaraz with his hard-to-reach shots.
At the end of the day, though, Alcaraz fended off Shelton and booked a ticket to the French Open quarterfinal.
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Furthermore, according to Roland-Garros, the win marked Alcaraz's 100th victory on clay surface, sparking excitement among fans.
"New clay-level unlocked," Roland-Garros' Instagram wrote, along with an edited photo of Alcaraz while showing his milestone mark.
"Carlitos the prince of clay," a commenter wrote. Another one said, "A giant of talent, athleticism, and sportsmanship. An example of what a real champion is."
"Scary fact for the rest of the locker room: There's more to come," a fan stated.
A supporter remarked, "The prince of clay! He will dominate the clay season. Hope he will be healthy all throughout years. Vamos Alcaraz."
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"Great potential to build his own legacy on clay," a follower shared.
A sixth poster added, "Carlos is physically fit, hardworker, and has mental perseverance, consistency, better conditioning and mobility. He's on [fire]."
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) reacts after missing a shot against David Goffin.© Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The 22-year-old Alcaraz won the French Open in 2024, and he certainly looks poised to defend his Grand Slam title with the way he's playing in this year's tournament.
Related: French Open Announces Historic Qinwen Zheng News on Sunday
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
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