Spain experienced mixed emotions on a dramatic day in sports. On one hand, Carlos Alcaraz gave fans a thrilling reason to celebrate. On the other hand, the national football team suffered a painful defeat to Portugal.
Alcaraz Pulls Off a Grand Slam Miracle
To begin with, Alcaraz made history at the French Open. He came back from two sets down and saved three match points. Eventually, he defeated Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) in an unforgettable final.
As a result, he claimed his fifth Grand Slam title in five finals. Moreover, he became only the third man to win a major after saving match points. Notably, Novak Djokovic was the last to do so in 2019 at Wimbledon.
Immediately after the win, he celebrated with his coaches, team, and ball kids. However, his joy was short-lived.
Football Loss Dampens Tennis Glory
Soon after, Alcaraz received bad news. A staff member informed him in the locker room that Spain had lost to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League final. At that moment, he stopped signing autographs, looked stunned, and reached for his phone to check updates.
Portugal Edges Out Spain in Penalty Drama
Earlier in the evening, Spain and Portugal had battled to a 2-2 draw after extra time in Munich. Consequently, the game moved to penalties. Diogo Costa saved Álvaro Morata’s fourth shot for Spain. Then, Rúben Neves sealed the 5-3 shootout win for Portugal.
Unfortunately for Spain, Morata was the only player to miss his penalty. He appeared heartbroken and couldn’t hold back his emotions.
Ronaldo Keeps Portugal in the Game
Before that, Mikel Oyarzabal had given Spain the lead in the 45th minute, thanks to a clever assist from Pedri. However, Cristiano Ronaldo equalized in the 61st minute with his 138th international goal — a world record.
Footballers Watch Tennis Before Final
Interestingly, before the football final began, Spain’s players watched Alcaraz’s match. Their excitement during his comeback was captured in pre-match photos. Yet, that early joy didn’t last long.
Alcaraz Reflects on Pressure and Resilience
In the post-match press conference, Alcaraz shared his thoughts. He said, “When the situations are against you, you have to fight, keep fighting.” He added, “It is a Grand Slam final. It’s no time to be tired. It’s no time to give up.”
He continued, “I think the real champions are made in those situations when you deal with that pressure. I mean, that’s what the real champions have done in their whole careers.”
