As he prepared for his inaugural French Open final, an image resurfaced of a 12-year-old Carlos Alcaraz sitting in front of the Eiffel Tower, captivated by the tournament displayed on a large screen.
Now, Alcaraz intends to get a tattoo of the famed landmark as a lasting tribute to the tournament he cherished as a child.
The 21-year-old Spanish player secured the Grand Slam title many believed was his destiny with a five-set win against Germany’s Alexander Zverev on Sunday.
“It will be inked on my left ankle – the Eiffel Tower along with today’s date,” Alcaraz shared.
“I just need to find the right time, but I will definitely follow through.”
The joy radiating from young Alcaraz’s face as he sat on the Champ-de-Mars grass with his childhood coach Carlos Santos illustrated the significance of the moment.
There’s also a nostalgic photograph of the dreamy duo on Court Philippe Chatrier taken during the same trip in 2015.
Alcaraz grew up playing on clay surfaces and would rush home from school to catch the action at Roland Garros.
“Winning a Grand Slam is always a remarkable experience, but here at Roland Garros, given the legacy of Spanish champions, placing my name among them is surreal,” Alcaraz expressed.
“I’ve dreamed of being in this position since I was five or six years old when I started playing tennis.”
