Tommy Paul’s French Open exit at the hands of Carlos Alcaraz can be attributed, in part, to the physical toll of his previous five-set thrillers. The American, who had already been struggling with an abdominal issue, visibly looked “weary” against the defending champion’s relentless attack.
Paul’s commendable resilience in battling through consecutive five-set matches to reach the quarter-finals ultimately caught up with him against an in-form Alcaraz. The Spaniard exploited Paul’s fatigue, delivering a dominant 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 victory.
Even in perfect health, facing Alcaraz playing at such an “unbelievable” level would have been an immense challenge. Paul’s journey highlights the demanding nature of Grand Slam tennis and the physical limits even top athletes face.