Alcaraz PROUDLY SAID: I'm the winner of the 2024 French Open, not even Novak Djokovic can..

The third seed was forced to work hard for a two-set lead under the Court Philippe Chatrier roof but 176th-ranked De Jong refused to be intimidated and extended the match as Alcaraz suffered a third-set slump.

An error-strewn Alcaraz continued to struggle as the first four games of the fourth set all went against serve with the 21-year-old becoming increasingly frustrated on court.

The warning signs were there when Alcaraz, once again wearing a support sleeve on his right arm, was broken in his first service game.

He quickly recovered that break and took the first two sets, but the forehand was definitely lacking its usual whip and power.

That was to take nothing away from De Jong, who was playing well above his ranking despite struggling physically himself.

Indeed, Britain’s Jack Draper may feel a little better about his surprise defeat to De Jong in the first round after the 23-year-old broke Alcaraz twice on the way to taking the third set.

But De Jong was visibly tiring in the fourth set despite forcing another early break of serve.

He was unable to hold on to his own serve, sprinkling in too many double faults as Alcaraz got over the line in just over three hours.