Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz reacts throughout his French Open ultimate match towards Italy’s Jannik Sinner, Roland Garros, Paris, France, June 8, 2025. — Reuters
PARIS: Carlos Alcaraz battled from the brink to outlast prime seed Jannik Sinner 4-6 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(10-2) in a French Open ultimate for the ages on Sunday to retain his crown and cement his standing because the “Prince of Clay” in Roland Garros’ post-Rafa Nadal period.
In a scintillating showdown between the torch-bearers of a brand new technology, the 22-year-old Alcaraz saved three match factors within the fourth set to proceed his dominance over Sinner together with his fifth straight victory and finish the Italian’s 20-match profitable run on the majors.
Alcaraz confirmed his steely willpower to win the epic in 5 hours and 29 minutes — the longest ultimate at Roland Garros — and soaked up the roaring ovation from a completely entertained Parisian crowd lengthy used to Nadal’s reign throughout his run of 14 titles.
“I want to start with Jannik. It’s amazing the level you have,” stated Alcaraz, solely the second man since tennis turned skilled in 1968 to win all of his first 5 Grand Slam singles finals after Swiss nice Roger Federer.
“Congratulations for an amazing two weeks […] I’m pretty sure you’re going to be champion not once, but many times. It’s a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament, making history with you.”
“I’m just really happy to be able to make history with you in this tournament.”
The duo, who’ve captured seven out of the final eight Grand Slams to stamp their authority on the lads’s tour, had been locked in a fierce battle stuffed with dramatic momentum shifts within the first main ultimate between two males born within the 2000s.
Sunday’s five-hour-plus fiesta was the second-longest Grand Slam ultimate within the Open Period and marked solely the third time since 1968 {that a} participant saved a match level en path to victory in a Grand Slam ultimate. Alcaraz matched Argentine Gaston Gaudio’s 2004 French Open feat and Serbian Novak Djokovic’s Wimbledon comeback in 2019.
Enjoying his first slam after serving a three-month ban following a doping case, Sinner held serve in a tense five-deuce opening sport lasting 12 minutes.
Nevertheless, he was damaged within the fifth sport when he fired a forehand vast, earlier than hitting again from 2-3 and occurring to grab an intense first set following an unforced error by Alcaraz.
On the ropes
Relentless strain from the baseline allowed Sinner to go a break up early within the second set and the highest seed started to use the squeeze on Alcaraz, who was on the ropes trailing 1-4 on a sunbathed Courtroom Philippe Chatrier.
Italy’s Jannik Sinner in motion throughout his French Open ultimate match towards Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, Roland Garros, Paris, France, June 8, 2025. — Reuters
An aggressive Alcaraz got here out combating and drew loud cheers when he drew stage after 10 video games after which pressured a tiebreak however Sinner edged forward with a blistering forehand winner and doubled his lead after the clock ticked previous two hours.
Alcaraz, who had by no means come again from two units down, battled arduous within the hope of avoiding his first loss in a significant ultimate and pulled a set again earlier than saving three match factors at 3-5 down within the fourth set, later restoring parity by way of the tiebreak.
He traded breaks within the decider however prevailed within the tremendous tiebreak to change into the third completely different man to win back-to-back Roland Garros titles this century after Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, whereas Sinner was left to digest how he let a golden alternative so as to add to his US and Australian Open wins slip via his fingers.
Alcaraz fell to the bottom earlier than Sinner went over to his facet of the courtroom to congratulate him and the Spaniard then ran to the stands to hug his workforce and rejoice.
“CARLOS II, PRINCE OF CLAY,” the French Open posted on X.
Sinner had a contemplative look, sitting on his bench as his nice rival rejoiced, and was gracious in defeat.
“Carlos, congratulations on an amazing performance and an amazing battle,” he stated.
“We tried our best today, gave everything […] an amazing tournament even though it is very difficult right now. It’s a big privilege for me to play here […] I won’t sleep very well tonight but it’s okay.”
