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Carlos Alcaraz under best-of-three
The young king with the most fragile crown
7actual titles
→
3under best-of-three
-4
Carlos Alcaraz plays the most thrilling tennis on the planet — and a remarkable amount of it from behind. For a champion so young, an alarming share of his majors are five-set escapes.
The verdict
Across 7 actual major titles, best-of-three would leave Carlos Alcaraz with 3. 4 would slip away — 3 where the run ends before the final, and 1 lost in the final itself.
Every title, year by year
222022 US OpenKnocked out in the Quarter-final by Jannik Sinner (6-3 6-7(7) 6-7(0) 7-5 6-3) — the title vanishes.Lost
232023 WimbledonTitle held — survives best-of-three.Kept
242024 French OpenKnocked out in the Semi-final by Jannik Sinner (2-6 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3) — the title vanishes.Lost
242024 WimbledonKnocked out in the Round of 32 by Frances Tiafoe (5-7 6-2 4-6 7-6(2) 6-2) — the title vanishes.Lost
252025 French OpenLoses the final to Jannik Sinner (4-6 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(2)) — the title changes hands.Lost
252025 US OpenTitle held — survives best-of-three.Kept
262026 Australian OpenTitle held — survives best-of-three.Kept
Alcaraz is the cautionary tale for the next generation: best-of-three would have made him wait, and forced him to close matches he currently leaves open.