The whole tennis world was devouring the incredible battle between the two best players in the world, Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Those who sat in the stands of Court Philippe-Chatrier or watched the match on TV saw a man who is quickly following in the footsteps of the indomitable fighter and 14-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal.
"First of all, I have to realise what I have just achieved. I won my fifth title at the same age as Rafa, who was and is my idol, my inspiration and probably my destiny. It's something I will carry with me forever. It's an honour and I hope it doesn't end there," said an emotional Alcaraz.
Nadal said a final goodbye to Paris in the early days of this year's tournament and his footprint remained on Centre Court as a memory. Two weeks later, Alcaraz lifted the prestigious trophy above his head.
The heir to the throne had to knock out seven opponents on his way to the title: Giulio Zeppieri, Fabian Marozsan, Damir Dzumhur, Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul, Lorenzo Musetti, and finally Sinner.
Key moments
Alcaraz vs Dzumhur 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
A seemingly straightforward third-round match started to get complicated for Alcaraz during the third set. The Bosnian, playing efficiently, took a break point, which he then protected very well and claimed the set. Even in the fourth, Dzumhur led 2-0 and 3-1 and Alcaraz was in a bit of a crisis, throwing away nine break points in a row. However, five of the last six games were his.
Alcaraz vs Shelton 7-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4
Alcaraz won the first set narrowly in the tiebreak, fending off three set points in the process. And then came an unprecedented moment. In the very first game of the second set, Shelton dropped Carlos on the backhand side and the Spaniard, with all his strength, returned the ball back miraculously.
But the racket flew out of his hand. He admitted his mistake and corrected the umpire's call. A moment of fair play in such a battle is rarely seen, as Alcaraz once again showed his greatness.
Alcaraz vs Sinner 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6
The last step and also the match that made history. Recovering from 0-2 in sets to 3-2, escaping three match points and the longest French Open final in history. If you want to capture a Grand Slam trophy, this is how you want everyone to remember it.
Alcaraz didn't hold back at any moment, not even when he was already heading for triumph, though Sinner briefly snatched away his chance by breaking late in the fifth set. The Spaniard bounced back, however, dominating the tiebreak to race into a 7-0 lead before finishing the job with a stunning forehand winner.
Important numbers
5 - It's not that long ago that Alcaraz entered the world of Grand Slam tennis, as he didn't play his first major until 2021. Yet he now has five triumphs to his name and is unbeaten in all of his Grand Slam final appearances.
Alcaraz is also the fifth youngest tennis player of the Open Era to play five major finals. Previously, only Mats Wilander, Bjorn Borg, Nadal and Boris Becker have done it before him.
312 - That's the number of winners the young Spaniard recorded in seven matches on his way to the title. It's by some distance the highest number in the men's field (the second Sinner has only 239). It shows that aggression and fearlessness were key to his triumph.
5:29 - A final that will one day be part of the golden archives of tennis was enhanced by the fact that it was the second-longest Grand Slam showpiece ever. Five hours and 29 minutes is a new Roland Garros record. Only one set (the third) lasted less than an hour, with the deciding set stretching to 80 minutes.
If tennis fans have admired the battles of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic over the past two decades, a new era in the sport seems to have begun. Alcaraz and Sinner met in a Grand Slam showpiece for the first time ever and put on a breathtaking show for the crowd.
And just as Federer and Nadal acknowledged each other, Alcaraz paid tribute to his Italian rival. "Together we are making history in this sport. You are a huge inspiration to everyone, even myself," he said while accepting the trophy. We can look forward to the continuation of their rivalry at Wimbledon.