As Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner lit up Court Philippe-Chatrier in the 2025 French Open final with another unforgettable battle, fans couldn’t help but notice more than just the Spaniard’s blistering forehand. Alcaraz’s tattoos—now an evolving part of his story—have become an emblem of his meteoric rise in the tennis world.
Alcaraz, 22, has made it a ritual to mark major career moments with ink. His collection, while modest in number, is deeply personal and symbolic. The first tattoo came in 2022, following his breakthrough US Open victory and ascent to World No. 1. Inked near his right elbow is the date of that triumph—“11.09.22”—alongside the initials “CCC,” a tribute to his grandfather’s mantra: “Cabeza, Corazón, Cojones”—Head, Heart, and Courage (or, more bluntly, “guts”).
“It was clear to me that I wanted to tattoo the first Grand Slam and my grandfather’s motto,” Alcaraz told Marca. “They had to be with me for life.”
True to his word, the Wimbledon crown in 2023 brought another tattoo: a strawberry—the tournament’s iconic fruit—inked on his right leg, accompanied by the date of his final victory. Most recently, after a grueling five-set win over Alexander Zverev in the 2024 French Open final, Alcaraz added an Eiffel Tower to his left leg to mark the occasion.
Although he had pledged to add a kangaroo tattoo if he won the Australian Open, that plan was shelved after a quarterfinal defeat to Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion. For now, Alcaraz has three tattoos, each tied to a major title—US Open, Wimbledon, and Roland Garros.
A Rivalry and a Record-Breaking Final
While his ink may capture his past, Alcaraz’s present is still being written—and in spectacular fashion. In a 2025 French Open final already hailed as a classic, the defending champion clawed his way back from two sets down against Sinner. The Italian took the first two sets 6-4 and 7-6(4), edging closer to his first Roland Garros title.
But Alcaraz, known for his indomitable will, roared back—taking the third set and saving three championship points in a dramatic fourth-set tiebreak. The match clocked in at 4 hours and 43 minutes, making it the longest men’s final in Roland Garros history, surpassing the legendary 1982 battle between Mats Wilander and Guillermo Vilas.
The Spaniard, now boasting a 12-1 career record in fifth sets, thrives in marathon matches. Sinner, by contrast, has yet to win a contest lasting over 3 hours and 50 minutes, falling short in all six previous attempts.
Now chasing his fifth Grand Slam title and looking to become only the eighth man in the Open Era—and third since 2000—to successfully defend the French Open, Alcaraz stands on the cusp of rewriting history once again.
Will he add another date—and perhaps another tattoo—to his collection? That remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: for Carlos Alcaraz, every mark tells a story. And his latest chapter might just be the most unforgettable yet.
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