British GP: Lewis Hamilton holds off Max Verstappen to claim record ninth victory at Silverstone | F1 News

British GP: Lewis Hamilton holds off Max Verstappen to claim record ninth victory at Silverstone | F1 News


Lewis Hamilton triumphed in a thrilling British Grand Prix to claim a record ninth victory at Silverstone and end a run of 56 races without a win.

Hamilton held off a late charge from world championship leader Max Verstappen to hang on for victory at his home race after the Red Bull driver had overtaken McLaren’s Lando Norris in the closing stages after a chaotic rain-interrupted contest.

The seven-time world champion had not won a race since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and has now ensured his final season with Mercedes before joining Ferrari next year will be marked by a victory.

The record-extending 104th grand prix victory of Hamilton’s career saw him become the first Formula 1 driver to win the same race nine times, extending a record he had previously shared with Michael Schumacher. He also extended a record run for podiums at the same race to 12.

Lewis Hamilton wins the British GP and is left emotional on the team radio straight after.

“Since 2021, every day I’m getting up and fighting to train to put my mind to the task and work as hard as I can with this amazing team,” Hamilton said.

“This is my last race here at the British Grand Prix with this team. I wanted to win this so much for them because I love them and appreciate them so much.

Lando Norris takes full advantage of some slippery conditions at Silverstone, as he overtakes both George Russell and Lewis Hamilton for the race lead

“All the hard work they put in over these years. I’m forever grateful to everyone at Mercedes and all our partners. And to all our incredible fans. I could see you lap by lap. There’s no greater feeling to finish at the front here.”

British GP result: Top 10

1) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

2) Max Verstappen, Red Bull

3) Lando Norris, McLaren

4) Oscar Piastri, McLaren

5) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari

6) Nico Hulkenberg, Haas

7) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

8) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin

9) Alex Albon, Williams

10)Yuki Tsunoda, RB

How Hamilton claimed record win

Having started from second behind George Russell, Hamilton took the lead on lap 18 as his Mercedes team-mate struggled as rain began to fall.

However, Hamilton too found the conditions difficult and only held the lead briefly before Norris and his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri came through to occupy the top two places.

Russell retired from the British Grand Prix with a suspected water issue

Hamilton regained second when the intensifying rain forced the field to switch from slick tyres to intermediates around the midway point, as McLaren cost Piastri time by not joining Mercedes in double-stacking their cars in the pits.

Verstappen, who had struggled on the opening stint as he dropped back to fifth, was brought back into play by a smartly timed Red Bull pit stop as he climbed to third, with Russell suddenly retiring from fourth because of a technical issue.

Max Verstappen overtook Lando Norris for second as he looked to chase down Lewis Hamilton for the race win

The rain then eased to leave a final key pit stop for the leaders to switch back to slick tyres, which saw Hamilton undercut Norris for the lead as Mercedes brought him in a lap earlier than the McLaren.

Both went for soft tyres, while the looming Verstappen was on a hard tyre which would give him greater freedom to push in the final stages.

Verstappen passed Norris with four full circuits of the 52-lap race remaining, but Hamilton expertly managed his tyres to maintain a relatively comfortable 1.5s margin at the chequered flag.

Lewis Hamilton and his engineer Peter Bonnington celebrate on the podium together following his emotional British GP victory!

The victory resulted in triumphant celebrations from the British fans at Silverstone, while a tearful Hamilton exchanged emotional messages over team radio with Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and his long-time race engineer Peter Bonnington.

The 39-year-old waved a Union Flag out of his cockpit after taking the chequered flag, before being greeted by his mother and father immediately after exiting the car.

Hamilton’s celebrations – in pictures

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates after winning the British Formula One Grand Prix race at the Silverstone racetrack, Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates after winning the British Formula One Grand Prix race at the Silverstone racetrack, Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates with his mother after winning the British Formula One Grand Prix race at the Silverstone racetrack, Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates with his father after winning the British Formula One Grand Prix race at the Silverstone racetrack, Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates on the podium after winning the British Formula One Grand Prix race at the Silverstone racetrack, Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Verstappen extends championship lead amid Hamilton glory

While he was unable to deny Hamilton on this occasion, Verstappen’s late surge and pass on Norris ensured that he further extended his world championship lead over the Brit.

A dominant start to the season that saw Verstappen win four of the first five races is now a distant memory, with the Dutchman having had to settle for just three victories across the next seven grands prix.

His 84-point lead over Norris at the halfway stage of the 24-race season puts him in an extremely strong position to claim a fourth successive drivers’ title.

Max Verstappen believes Red Bull maximised their result by finishing second

As was the case when he claimed hard-fought victories in Canada and Spain in June, Verstappen needed all of his – and Red Bull’s – excellence to ensure Norris didn’t make ground.

Despite having brought upgrades to Silverstone, the RB20 couldn’t match the pace of either Mercedes or McLaren for much of the race, and it was only when Verstappen had the hard tyre on the final stint that he was finally able to pressure his rivals.

That wouldn’t have been possible if it weren’t for the timing of his switch to intermediate tyres and then Red Bull’s decision to give him hard tyres for the final stint.

In contrast, a distraught Norris felt that his and McLaren’s strategic calls had cost him a first home victory.

Listen into the cool-down room where Lewis Hamilton offers some advice to a despondent Lando Norris about McLaren’s strategy

Allowing Hamilton to pit earlier at the end gave him the opportunity to undercut, but perhaps more importantly, McLaren gave Norris the same soft tyre as the Mercedes, when the new medium they had available was shown to be much faster by Piastri, who used it for his final stint.

Since claiming his maiden F1 victory in Miami in May, Norris has had a very strong chance of winning five of the six races that have followed, but a failure to take advantage of what has often been the fastest car on the track has left the 24-year-old hugely frustrated.

“I know [it’s a podium at the British GP] but I’m fed up of just saying I should have done better and I should have done this and could have done that, or whatever,” Norris told Sky Sports F1.

“I don’t care if it takes time, I don’t want it to take time. I should be doing it now, we should be winning now. I should be making better decisions than what I’m making.

“I’m just disappointed, it’s a win. It’s a win in Formula 1 and I’m not going to settle for something less when we should have achieved it.”

Lando Norris believes he threw away the race win after making the wrong tyre choice and he should be making better decisions instead of missing out on victories

Piastri claimed fourth to secure another strong haul of points for McLaren, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz fifth and claiming an extra point for setting the fastest lap of the race.

Nico Hulkenberg was sixth for a second successive race as Haas claimed another superb result, with the German finish ahead of Aston Martin duo Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso. Williams’ Alex Albon and RB’s Yuki Tsunoda rounded out the points.

Red Bull are 71 points clear of Ferrari at the top of the constructors’ standings, with both teams only getting points from one driver as Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez finished outside the points after switching to intermediate tyres too early when the rain arrived.

Third-placed McLaren closed their deficit to Red Bull to 78 points, while Mercedes are now 152 points off the leaders.

British GP Result

Driver Team Time
1) Lewis Hamilon Mercedes 1:22:27.059s
2) Max Verstappen Red Bull +1.465
3) Lando Norris McLaren +7.547
4) Oscar Piastri McLaren +12.439
5) Carlos Sainz Ferrari +47.318
6) Nico Hulkenberg Haas +55.722
7) Lance Stroll Aston Martin +56.569
8) Fernando Alonso Aston Martin +63.577
9) Alex Albon Williams +68.387
10) Yuki Tsunoda RB +79.303
11) Logan Sargeant Williams +88.960
12) Kevin Magnussen Haas +90.153
13) Daniel Ricciardo RB +1 lap
14) Charles Leclerc Ferrari +1 lap
15) Valtteri Bottas Sauber +1 lap
16) Esteban Ocon Alpine +2 laps
17) Sergio Perez Red Bull +2 laps
18) Zhou Guanyu Sauber +2 laps
George Russell Mercedes DNF
Pierre Gasly Alpine DNF

Next up for F1 is the Hungarian Grand Prix from Budapest on July 19-21. You can watch every session live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime

F1 Academy: Chloe Chambers beats Abbi Pulling to claim maiden series win at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | F1 News

F1 Academy: Chloe Chambers beats Abbi Pulling to claim maiden series win at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya | F1 News


Chloe Chambers claimed her maiden F1 Academy win with a stunning drive in the second race at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Sunday.

American Chambers started from second but a superb launch off the line saw her blitz past Britain’s Abbi Pulling on the run down to Turn One.

From there, the Haas-affiliated driver romped to victory and won by 6.6 seconds from Pulling, who fended off a late challenge from Hamda Al Qubaisi.

“It feels amazing,” Chambers said. “I don’t know how to explain it. I worked at this all year and we are only before the halfway point of the season, so to get it this early is a big boost for my confidence.

“I think the rest of this season has even more wins in store and I can’t wait to see what happens.

“Yesterday my start wasn’t great but today I put my focus into the start. I was able to get into the lead, which was the best-case scenario for me, so really happy with that.

“It made my life easier being out in front with tyre degradation and I managed the tyres as best as I could and got the fastest lap early in the run, then managed it from there and continually pulled a gap to Abbi behind.

“It looked like an entertaining race, looking at the TV screens around the track. I learned that trick from Fernando [Alonso]!”

Pulling, who won the first race in Spain, initially put Chambers under pressure in the early stages but began to struggle with tyre degradation as Nerea Marti, Al Qubaisi and Dorianne Pin converged in the fight for second.

Al Qubaisi made a great move to get by Marti on Lap 12 as overtaking proved difficult at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and went on to secure her first F1 Academy podium.

Mercedes junior Pin had started third but another poor launch for a second consecutive day meant she dropped to sixth on the first lap and she was only able to recover to fifth place.

Lia Block had her best result of the season with sixth after Bianca Bustamante received a five-second time penalty for a jump start.

Tina Hausmann was eighth, Lola Lovinfosse finished ninth and Emely de Heus completed the top 10.

F1 Academy Barcelona Race Two Result
Image:
F1 Academy Barcelona Race Two Result

Sky Sports F1’s live Spanish GP schedule

Sunday June 23
9am: F3 Feature Race
10.30am: F2 Feature Race
12:30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Spanish GP build-up
2pm: The SPANISH GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Spanish GP reaction

Lando Norris and Max Verstappen start on the front row for Sunday’s Formula 1 race at the Spanish Grand Prix. Watch every moment from the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya live on Sky Sports F1, with lights out at 2pm and build-up from 12.30pm. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime

T20 World Cup: Afghanistan claim historic Australia scalp to keep semi-final hopes alive | Cricket News

T20 World Cup: Afghanistan claim historic Australia scalp to keep semi-final hopes alive | Cricket News


Afghanistan kept their T20 World Cup semi-final hopes alive by stunning previously unbeaten Australia by 21 runs in a thrilling encounter on Saturday.

Despite Pat Cummins becoming the third bowler in history to claim a hat-trick in successive innings, Afghanistan posted 148-6 after being asked to bat first on a tricky pitch at the Arnos Vale Ground.

Afghanistan pair Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran put on 118 for the highest opening partnership against Australia in a T20 match before Australia’s bowlers rallied late, including Cummins’ second career hat-trick – just two days after his first.

Australia then stumbled with the bat and were all out for 127, with only Glenn Maxwell (59 off 41 balls) coming to grips with the superb Afghanistan bowling attack and the turning wicket.

Man of the match Guldabin Naib took four wickets in an inspired spell in the middle overs to stall Australia’s chase before Azmatullah Omarzai had final wicket Adam Zampa caught in the deep in the final over to complete a stunning win amid jubilant celebrations among the Afghan players and team management.

Pat Cummins became the first player to register a hat-trick in consecutive T20 World Cup matches as he took three wickets in a row against Afghanistan


The victory moves Afghanistan to two points in Group 1 and level with Australia, but behind on net run rate. India lead the group on four points. Bangladesh are bottom after two losses but still have a chance of qualifying for the semifinals.

“It’s a massive win for us as a team and as a nation in the World Cup beating (the) champions,” captain Rashid Khan said.

“It’s so important for us back home and for everyone all around the world. Where Afghanistan people, the Afghans are there, they are badly missing this win and I’m sure they would have been so proud of and they would have enjoyed the game and I think it’s just the beginning now for us.”

Image:
Afghanistan players celebrate after defeating Australia by 21 runs in their men’s T20 World Cup cricket match

Earlier, Gurbaz scored 60 off 49 balls, while Zadran made a steady 51 off 48 balls as they laid a solid platform – helped by some uncharacteristically poor fielding by Australia.

Marcus Stoinis eventually made the breakthrough in the 16th over, dismissing Gurbaz which led to a flurry of wickets as the momentum shifted.

Adam Zampa (2-28) took two wickets in the next over, including Zadran’s, before Pat Cummins again came to the fore. The seam bowler had Rashid Khan (two) caught by Tim David in the deep with the final ball off the 18th over.

Australia's Pat Cummins, right, is congratulated by teammates Marcus Stoinis and Tim David, left, during the men's T20 World Cup cricket match between Afghanistan and Australia at Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Image:
Pat Cummins became the first player in T20 history to take a hat-trick in successive matches

Cummins (3-28) returned to bowl the final over of the innings and with his first ball had Karim Janat (13) again caught by David.

For the hat-trick ball, Cummins cleverly disguised a slower delivery which Guldabin Naib could only loft to Glenn Maxwell running in from the boundary to claim the catch.

Australia stumbled early in the chase as it lost Travis Head bowled by Naveen-ul-Haq for no score with the third ball of the innings.

Captain Mitchell Marsh (12) played two big shots before he was Naveen’s second wicket and when David Warner (three) was out to spinner Mohammad Nabi’s first ball the Aussies were in trouble at 32-3 in the sixth over.

Stoinis and Maxwell steadied the Australian innings as they reached 70-3 at the halfway stage.

Afghanistan players celebrate after defeating Australia by 21 runs in their men's T20 World Cup cricket match at Arnos Vale Ground, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saturday, June 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)
Image:
Afghanistan players celebrate after defeating Australia by 21 runs in their men’s T20 World Cup match

Gulbadin (4-20) was the eighth bowler used by Afghanistan inside the first 11 overs and it paid a near instant dividend as Stoinis could only sky a pull shot which was caught by Gurbaz.

Gulbadin then removed David (two) and when the allrounder had Maxwell spectacularly caught by Noor Ahmad an upset victory appeared likely.

Australia’s lower-order batters couldn’t find the big hits that the moment demanded either and when veteran Nabi took a catch on the boundary to dismiss Zampa (nine), Afghanistan’s deserved victory was confirmed.

What’s next?

Australia face India in St Lucia on Monday (live from 3pm on Sky Sports Cricket, first ball 3.30pm), while Afghanistan round off their Super 8s campaign against Bangladesh on Tuesday (live from 1.30am on Sky Sports Cricket. The two semi-finals take place on Thursday June 27, ahead of the final on June 29.

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United Rugby Championship final: Glasgow Warriors beat Bulls 21-16 in South Africa to claim landmark title | Rugby Union News

United Rugby Championship final: Glasgow Warriors beat Bulls 21-16 in South Africa to claim landmark title | Rugby Union News


Glasgow Warriors landed the United Rugby Championship title for the first time
since 2015 after a hard-fought 21-16 victory over the Bulls at a sold-out Loftus
Versfeld.

Having beaten the Stormers, the 2022 winners, and defending champions Munster to reach the Grand Final, the Warriors avoided a third loss in the showpiece with a fantastic performance in Pretoria.

A pair of Johan Goosen penalties separated the sides before Marco van Staden’s try, converted by Goosen, gave the Bulls – beaten by the Stormers in the 2022 final – a 13-0 lead.

Image:
Johan Goosen helped the Bulls get off to a fast start in the final, where they opened up a 13-0 advantage

Glasgow hauled themselves back into the game on the stroke of half-time when Scott Cummings powered his way over the line, with George Horne adding the extras.

Goosen’s third penalty extended the Bulls’ lead to nine points but tries from George Turner and Huw Jones, both converted by Horne, ensured the Warriors would emerge triumphant.

How Glasgow claimed URC glory

The Bulls, who had lost only one of their last 12 URC matches at this venue, led inside 100 seconds through Goosen’s penalty. A second successful kick followed before Wilco Louw was denied a try by the TMO, who deemed he was held up by Rory Darge.

But the Bulls were not to be denied moments later when Van Staden barged his way through the Glasgow defence, with Goosen landing the conversion.

Glasgow responded well and gave themselves a lifeline moments before the break when Cummings went over and Horne converted. Buoyed by that score, Glasgow came out strong in the second half but another Goosen penalty brought some relief to the Bulls.

A few minutes later, though, the Warriors cut the deficit to just two points when Turner, on his last appearance for the club, went over from a maul, which Horne converted.

Jones then grabbed Glasgow’s third try, with Horne again successful from the tee, to lead for the first time in the game before Jack Dempsey was denied another by the TMO.

Horne was just short with a long-range penalty attempt but Glasgow had to see out the final moments with 14 players after Tom Jordan was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Francois Klopper. The Scottish side survived late Bulls pressure to be crowned champions.

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Memorial Tournament: Scottie Scheffler edges Collin Morikawa to claim fifth PGA Tour win of season | Golf News

Memorial Tournament: Scottie Scheffler edges Collin Morikawa to claim fifth PGA Tour win of season | Golf News


Scottie Scheffler came through a final-round tussle with Collin Morikawa to claim a fifth PGA Tour victory of the season with a one-shot win at the Memorial Tournament.

Scheffler, who had already won the Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Players, The Masters and the RBC Heritage in a dominant start to the year, now heads into the US Open with five wins in his last eight starts despite being nowhere near his convincing best on Sunday.

The 27-year-old saw his four-shot overnight lead cut to one at Muirfield Village as Morikawa and Adam Hadwin piled on the pressure, although Scheffler never relinquished top spot as he came through a tough final day at Muirfield Village.

Image:
Scottie Scheffler struggled to a two-over 74 on the final day at Muirfield Village

Scheffler mixed a birdie with three bogeys during a two-over 74, seeing him end the week on eight under and take the $3.6m first prize, with playing partner Collin Morikawa finishing a shot back in second after a one-under 71.

“The golf course was playing so tough today,” Scheffler said after his win. “It was so firm, so fast. I mean it was a fun test to golf. I like it when it gets this hard and yeah it was good to battle it out. I didn’t really do a whole lot great today, but I did enough to get the job done.”

How Scheffler edged special Sunday

Scheffler’s overnight lead quickly reduced when Hadwin chipped in at the first and Morikawa rolled in from 15 feet to birdie at the second, lifting both to seven under and within three of the reigning Masters champion.

Hadwin holed another from eight feet at the fourth, which moved him just one back when Scheffler failed to get up and down from the sand at the same par-three, only for the world No 1 to respond with a 10-foot birdie at the sixth to double his advantage.

Adam Hadwin, left, waves after hitting onto the first green and holing out during the final round of the Memorial golf tournament, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Dublin, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Image:
Adam Hadwin carded a two-over 74 on the final hole

Morikawa temporarily fell five behind when he bogeyed the sixth, although took advantage of the par-five next and then got back within three of the lead when Scheffler missed from seven feet to save par at the eighth.

Hadwin finished his front nine with back-to-back bogeys to reach the turn two behind Scheffler, while Morikawa carded an eight-foot birdie at the ninth and then drained a 30-footer at the par-three 12th – the hardest hole on the course – to get within one of his playing partner.

Scheffler failed to convert birdie chances from inside 10 feet on the same hole and from even closer at the next, although remained one ahead when Morikawa missed from six feet to pull level at the par-five 15th.

Morikawa failed to get up and down to save par from off the 16th green, where Scheffler scrambled a 15-foot par to go two up with two to play, with Hadwin’s slim hopes also ending with successive bogeys from the 16th.

Collin Morikawa waves after putting on the second green during the final round of the Memorial golf tournament, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Dublin, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Image:
Collin Morikawa threatened throughout the final day but remains without a win this season

Scheffler missed an eight-footer to save par at the 17th and joined Morikawa in sending his approach at the final hole into the rough at the back of the green, although was able to get up and down to hold on for an 11th PGA Tour victory.

Hadwin took third spot ahead of Christiaan Bezuidenhout, while a round-of-the-day 69 from Matt Fitzpatrick lifted him to tied-fifth with Ryder Cup team-mates Ludvig Åberg and Sepp Straka.

“I’m proud of the way I battled,” Hadwin said. “It does sting to kind of finish the way I did, 16 through 18. I had put a Band-Aid on the round for a long time before that, previously, and the Band-Aid came off and it was carnage! So it’s disappointing, but, look, I take a lot of positives away from this week.”

Hideki Matsuyama, Sungjae Im, Tony Finau and PGA champion Xander Schauffele shared eighth spot on one under, while Rory McIlroy faded to tied-15th after a final-round 76. Viktor Hovland also ended the week on two over, while McIlroy’s playing partner Shane Lowry dropped to tied-49th after a 13-over 85 on the final day.


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Carlos Alcaraz: Spaniard beats Alexander Zverev to claim maiden French Open title at Roland Garros | Tennis News

Carlos Alcaraz: Spaniard beats Alexander Zverev to claim maiden French Open title at Roland Garros | Tennis News


Carlos Alcaraz was made to sweat but clinched his first French Open title by outlasting Alexander Zverev 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2 in Sunday’s final at Roland Garros.

The 21-year-old filled a Rafael Nadal-sized void at Roland Garros with a marathon victory in four hours and 19 minutes.

Fourth seed Zverev had sent old warrior Nadal out on his shield for probably the last time in the first round.

But young pretender Alcaraz vanquished the German to join fellow Spaniard Nadal as the only men to lift the Roland Garros trophy aged under 22.

Carlos Alcaraz is now…

The youngest man ever to become World No. 1 (19 years, 4 months, 6 days old).

The youngest man ever to win a Grand Slam title on all three surfaces (21 years, 1 month, 3 days old).

The first man to win his first three major titles on three different surfaces.

“I’m really grateful to have the team that I have and the people I have around me,” said the Spaniard, who became the youngest man to win a Grand Slam title on all three surfaces, adding the Paris clay to his hard-court US Open success and last year’s win on the Wimbledon grass.

“I know everyone in my team gives their heart just to make me improve as a player and as a person.

“I just have good words for the fans – it’s been unbelievable the support I’ve received. I feel like I’m at home here. The fans make this tournament so special. A huge thanks to them.”

He boasts a perfect record in major finals, while for Zverev it is two defeats from two following his loss to Dominic Thiem at the US Open four years ago.

Alcaraz was the clear aggressor as the first set wore on and he took it in 43 minutes.

But the Zverev forehand began firing and he broke for 3-2 in the second set after Alcaraz’s mistimed return flew into the crowd.

A sizzling pass from Zverev sent a cloud of dust exploding off the court as he brought up a double break on his way to levelling the match.

Alcaraz found his range again early in the third when a superb volley brought up three break points – his first on the Zverev serve all set – and he dispatched the first to lead 4-2.

But Alcaraz was suddenly missing more often than his opponent and Zverev reeled off five games, saving a break point at 6-5, to move ahead.

But having finally got a service hold on the board and returning from so far back he was almost sitting on the lap of Bjorn Borg in the front row of the presidential box, Alcaraz broke with a vicious forehand down the line.

Alcaraz needed treatment on his left thigh but held out to take the match to a deciding set.

A tired service game from Zverev, who has spent almost 24 hours on court this fortnight, gave Alcaraz the early advantage.

‘Carlos, Carlos’ chanted the crowd on Philippe Chatrier in scenes usually only reserved for 14-time winner Nadal.

They were on their feet again when an astonishing flicked backhand cross-court winner helped secure another break.

Four minutes later the man from Murcia was lying on his back, Nadal style, celebrating a victory he has always seemed destined for.

“You’re already a Hall of Famer and you already achieved so much,” said Zverev. “You’ve already achieved so much at 21 years old – incredible player. It’s not the last time he’ll win this.

“It’s been amazing, I really love to play on this beautiful court – I’ll be back next year.”

The list of men in the Open Era to win a singles major title on hard court, grass court and clay court

Andre Agassi

Jimmy Connors

Novak Djokovic

Roger Federer

Rafael Nadal

Mats Wilander

Carlos Alcaraz

Tale of the Tape

Social media reaction

‘This sport needs Alcaraz!’

Three-time French Open champion Mats Wilander on Eurosport:

“We need Alcaraz more than anything in our sport right now. He needs to keep winning majors every year.

“If he does that he’ll change our sport in many ways because he’s such a breath of fresh air, his smiling is great and he’s humble. This is great for professional tennis.”

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

Find out all the ways to watch tennis on Sky Sports, including the US Open, ATP and WTA tours

In the run-up to the third Grand Slam of 2024 – Wimbledon – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars in action live on Sky Sports as they compete across the grass-court season.

  • Stuttgart Open (ATP 250 with Andy Murray in action) – June 10-16
  • Rosmalen Open (ATP/WTA 250) – June 10-16
  • Berlin Open (WTA 500) – June 17-23

Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.