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.
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.
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.”
“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].”
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.