It’s an open secret that India’s most successful Grand Slam-winning tennis ace Leander Paes, who played across a record seven Olympic Games, owed his longevity to his supreme physical fitness. But, according to Paes, mental strength trumps physicality in the current era, and it is this strong will that helped USA’s Coco Gauff and Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz emerge French Open champions recently. 

Gauff rallied from a set down to beat World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-4 in the women’s final, while Alcaraz fought back from two sets down to beat World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2). 

An animated Carlos Alcaraz during the French Open men’s singles final against Jannik Sinner in Paris on Sunday; (right) USA’s Coco Gauff is ecstatic after beating Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in the French Open women’s singles final last Saturday. Pics/Getty Images