After a flawless fortnight in Paris, Sinner's eye-catching run at French Open ends in heartbreak
PARIS (AP) — After a flawless fortnight in Paris, Jannik Sinner was on the brink of capturing his first French Open title on Sunday after a dominant run on the clay courts of Roland-Garros.
Facing defending champion
Carlos Alcaraz
, the top-ranked Italian was firmly in control.
Sinner's deep groundstrokes, excellent service, heavy top spin, and subtle variations had worn down Alcaraz, who found himself 5-3 down and trailing 0-40 in the fourth set, and facing three match points.
At that moment, it felt like the best of all possible worlds for the 23-year-old Sinner.
But then the momentum swung. Alcaraz fought back, saved the first match point when Sinner sent a forehand long. On the second, Sinner missed a return. The third ended with Alcaraz winning a short baseline exchange.
Sinner had just let his chance slip away.
From there, Alcaraz produced
one of the greatest comeback in Roland-Garros history
to win the longest final ever played on the Parisian dirt — 5 hours and 29 minutes — 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2).
'It's an amazing trophy, so I won't sleep tonight very well, but it's okay,' Sinner said during the trophy ceremony.
Exciting rivalry
There is hardly anything between the two best players in tennis at the moment, who have now combined to win the last six Grand Slam titles and appear poised to build one of the sport's most compelling rivalries in the years ahead.
Sunday's duel delivered a match of rare intensity, filled with punishing baseline rallies, exquisite drop shots, and brilliant passing shots — thrilling a packed Court Philippe-Chatrier.
'This one hurts'
Reflecting on the match in his post-final press conference, Sinner tried to draw positives from a devastating loss.
'Obviously, this one hurts,' he said. 'There's not so much to say right now. But again, I'm happy with how we're trying to improve every day and put myself in these kinds of positions. It was a very high-level match, that's for sure. I'm happy to be part of it. But yeah, the final result hurts.'
It was a particularly tough ending for Sinner, who had not dropped a set on his way to the final, including a dominant semifinal
win over three-time French Open champion Novak Djokovic
.
Before facing Alcaraz, Sinner had never lost a Grand Slam final, winning his first three. A victory would have made him just the fifth man in the Open Era to win three consecutive major titles.
'I'm pretty sure you are going to be a champion, not once but many, many times,' Alcaraz told him during the trophy ceremony. 'It is a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament, making history with you.'
Sinner, who will remain world No. 1, said he'll lean on his family and loved ones to recover from the loss.
'Now it's my time to take something from the close people I have,' he said. 'As I've always said, before my career started, I never would've imagined finding myself in this position. It wasn't even a dream because it felt so far away — I wasn't even thinking about it. Now I find myself here, playing the longest final in the history of Roland-Garros. It hurts, yes, but on the other hand, you can't go on crying.'
___
AP tennis:
https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox Sports
23 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Australia's champion pedigree faces South Africa's gritty ambition in cricket's WTC final
Associated Press LONDON (AP) — When it comes to major cricket finals, Australia is in a league of its own. Only Australia has won all four men's global trophies. It is hard to beat in finals, having won 10 of 13 across the 50-over World Cup, 20-over World Cup, Champions Trophy, and World Test Championship. And let's not get started on the women's team, which is even more dominant. The men go for world title No. 11 from Wednesday in the WTC final against South Africa at neutral Lord's. That ruthless focus Australia brings on the biggest stages is in marked contrast to South Africa, a perennial underachiever. The Proteas have won just one of cricket's major international titles, the Champions Trophy's inaugural predecessor in 1998, when most of the current Proteas were toddlers. An experienced squad — average age 29 1/2 — compensates with a bond that can't be underestimated, a determination to have each other's backs. That showed often in the 2023-25 WTC cycle as the Proteas, who used 30 players — more than any other team — found a run-scorer or wicket-taker at just the right time. They won their last seven tests and were first to qualify for the final. 'We haven't been super dominant in our performances,' South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said when the team qualified in December. 'We definitely haven't been clinical or ruthless when the opportunity or the situation is called upon. But I think what we've done is that we've found ways to make sure that the result is on our side.' Who opens with Khawaja? Australia already had a veteran team when it won the 2023 final by crushing India by 209 runs at the Oval. Ten of that 11 are back. Only David Warner is missing, retired from the test format. Medium-pace bowler Josh Hazlewood was injured and didn't play, but he's expected to replace one of the 2023 stars, Scott Boland. Hazlewood overcame a shoulder injury to spearhead Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a first Indian Premier League title last week with 22 wickets in 12 innings. Warner's permanent replacement at opener still hasn't been settled. Sam Konstas made an audacious debut at age 19 in December against India, but Travis Head was preferred in Sri Lanka in February. They seem to be the main candidates. Marnus Labuschagne has opened only once since 2016, and his form has dropped to the point of concern. He averaged just 28.33 in the WTC cycle and attempts last month to spark form at Glamorgan in the second tier of the English County Championship fell flat. In the same division, allrounder Cameron Green scored three hundreds for Gloucestershire in a comeback from lower spine surgery which sidelined him for six months. But he's not ready to bowl. It may not matter. Australia has four of its top 10 all-time leading wicket-takers in Nathan Lyon (553, third), Mitchell Starc (382, fourth), captain Pat Cummins (294, eighth), and Hazlewood (279, 10th). Steve Smith is locked in at No. 4 in the batting order. He turned 36 last week and hasn't played in the top flight since March, just like Konstas, opener Usman Khawaja, Lyon, Boland, and wicketkeeper Alex Carey. But they're entrusted with the knowhow to switch on when it counts. Smith has four hundreds in his last five tests, and passed 10,000 career runs, almost as many as the South Africans. At Lord's he averages 58. Rabada ready to roll Whoever opens with Khawaja will likely immediately face fearsome South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada. Khawaja will have his hands full. He's fallen to Rabada five times in 10 matches. Rabada, with 327 wickets, is three away from tying Allan Donald for fourth place on South Africa's all-time list. Rabada will have the company of left-armer Marco Jansen, who took 29 wickets in six matches in the cycle. The third seamer will be either Lungi Ngidi, who was one of eight South Africans at the IPL, or Dane Paterson, who has been nipping the ball around for Middlesex in county division two. South Africa has confirmed Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton as the openers and captain Bavuma at No. 4. They played in the IPL, too. Middle-order batter David Bedingham, South Africa's leading scorer in the cycle, proved in a warmup game against Zimbabwe that he's recovered from a broken toe sustained in April. How did they qualify? The finalists didn't meet in this cycle. Their last series was in January 2023, when Australia won 2-0 at home and dominated. South Africa didn't play England either. It topped the standings with eight wins from 12 tests despite forfeiting a series in New Zealand to focus on its domestic Twenty20 league. Australia also didn't play last-place Bangladesh. With 13 wins in 19 tests, Australia clinched its spot in the final by beating India in January. It lost only twice away from home. Lord's history Lord's, the home of cricket, holds no demons for both teams. South Africa has lost only once there in seven post-apartheid tests. The last appearance resulted in an innings victory inside three days in 2022. Australia has not lost at Lord's for 10 years. ___ AP cricket:
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Coco Gauff has three break points. She takes none
Follow reaction to Coco Gauff's French Open victory after the 21-year-old American's thrilling three-set battle with the World No. 1 Getty Images The Athletic Coco Gauff fought back from a set down to beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 in a rollercoaster French Open final. It is the second Grand Slam singles triumph of Gauff's career and her maiden Roland Garros title, adding to the US Open title she won in 2023, also by beating Sabalenka. 'I was going through a lot of things when I lost here three years ago,' Gauff said after her victory, referencing her straight sets defeat to Iga Swiatek in the 2022 final. 'I'm just glad to be back here. I was going through a lot of dark thoughts. Three finals ... I guess I got the most important win. That's all that matters.' Sabalenka recovered from a 4-1 deficit in an exciting first set tiebreak only to make a huge number of mistakes in the second and third as Gauff seized control. 'This hurts so much,' the World No. 1 said afterwards. 'Congratulations to Coco, she was a better player than me.' Get involved: live@ GO FURTHER French Open final: Coco Gauff beats Aryna Sabalenka to win second Grand Slam title Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Getty Images Gauff *3-4 Sabalenka Sabalenka goes long, 10 points in a row, and another unforced error, 11 on the bounce! Gauff has definitely stepped it up, but how has she lost that feel so quickly? Tennis is such a mental game at times like these. Sabalenka needs to slow things down, take her time, trust her processes. Oosh, wide and into the tramlines, 12 points in a row. She chews her lip unhappily. Three break points! One saved as Gauff isn't accurate enough. Two saved as Sabalenka whips a brutal forehand into space. And three saved, Sabalenka has dug herself out! Gauff goes down on her haunches to hit a flat backhand and Sabalenka just unleashes another winner. Deuce. Catharsis, thy name is Aryna. This game is still alive, though. Gauff goes for it, error, then nets a backhand return, back to deuce. Getty Images Nine straight points for Gauff, to go from 4-1, 40-0 down to 4-3. Spike Lee is loving it! Sabalenka rapidly going off the boil here. Up until this game, Gauff had committed more errors despite taking far less risk on her groundstrokes than Sabalenka is doing with her first-strike attack. Getty Images Gauff 3-4* Sabalenka Sabalenka maybe a touch over-aggressive, 15-0 down, five straight points lost and now Sabalenka is the one chuntering away unhappily and glancing uncertainly to her box. Oh, that's top. Long rally, covering the whole court, Gauff comes into the net and curls a looping parabola back over a helpless Sabalenka's head. Gauff goes 40-0 up, then holds to love. Not long ago, Sabalenka looked irresistible, borderline unplayable. Not so now. Getty Images Gauff *2-4 Sabalenka Early days, of course. But Sabalenka looks in fearsome form out there at the moment. Not sure anyone in the women's game could live with her. Even her bad shots are coming off! A frankly awful drop shot, Gauff seizes on it desperately... and overcooks it. Now 40-0, and could this be her third game in six she wins to love? No. Error, and then Gauff shows her the quality of drop shot Sabalenka should be aiming for. At 40-30, the red brick dust swirls around behind Sabalenka's head and she has to set up a serve several times. Double fault for deuce! Sabalenka complains to her box but you can't do much about the weather, Aryna. Poor drop shot from Sabalenka, just becomes a setup for Gauff, who feints right and slaps it left for a winner. Break point... And Sabalenka nets! Gauff with a shout of 'Come on!'. Four points in a row from 40-0 down. Such minerals from the American. Getty Images Gauff 1-4* Sabalenka From deuce, a rollicking return at Gauff's toes and that's advantage back to her opponent. Decent serve from Gauff... but in a French Open final, decent isn't good enough. Sabalenka creams her return back past a static Gauff. A sizzler of a forehand winner. Getty Images That was seven straight lost points on serve before Coco saved triple break point. If she gets back to level in this set, those three saves will have been a big turning point. Getty Images Gauff 1-3* Sabalenka Super setup from Sabalenka, who draws Gauff in with the drop shot, before settling into a strong foundation and pinging a rocket of a backhand passing shot down the line. Sabalenka goes hard to Gauff's backhand side, and it's long. 0-30. Gauff gives a little nod to herself in acknowledgement. But that's not what she wanted! Another miscue off a duff part of the racket and it's miles out. 0-40 and three more break points. Sabalenka long, unforced error, and the Belarusian grimaces. Big serve down the T, return long, two saved! And a third as she maneuvers Sabalenka into the corner then swats away a volley, imbuing it with the annoyance and frustration of the match so far. Cracking serve again, advantage... but she nets. Deuce. We saw Sabalenka use her first-strike tennis to knock down Iga Świątek early in their semifinal. Świątek responded in two ways: flattening out her own strikes to match Sabalenka's, and returning from a bit deeper to get into rallies, in which she could move Sabalenka all about the court. Gauff's forehand grip, like Świątek's, is extreme enough that flattening out is a bit difficult, and she doesn't have the vicious, spinning power behind her ball that Świątek could use to rip the initiative away from Sabalenka in the second set of their match. So Gauff needs to do what Świątek did: extend rallies, move Sabalenka, take away the first strike. Her groundstroke artillery just isn't as heavy. It's going to be tough. The wind's picked up a little, and may have contributed to that complete mishit from Gauff to fall down 3-1. Getty Images Gauff *1-3 Sabalenka Not so good and then good from Gauff, who on the stretch can only volley a backhand at the net straight down, before ripping one beyond Sabalenka. Taste of her own medicine. Now this is interesting. Sabalenka is tossing the ball pretty high for her serve and the ball is catching in the wind a bit, which she mentions to the umpire, before missing the first serve. Again the second is good, and Gauff errs, 30-15. Gauff clearly trying to match the aggression and speed on Sabalenka's balls, and it works there as Sabalenka is rushed into netting for 30-all. A near-unplayable serve at a potentially tricky part of the game. Ace. Gauff looks impassive. Ah, Gauff's eyes light up at a central forehand in the slot but she mishits it. 3-1. Getty Images Takeaway from three games... Sabalenka is trying to attack Gauff's strength, which is her running. She's moving the ball around the court rather than trying to hit through it. That should pay big dividends if she can keep Gauff from camping in the back to defend. Getty Images And there's the first double fault for Coco, often her Achilles heel. It gives Sabalenka an opening at 0-30, which she tuns into a break to love. Eight straight points for Sabalenka, who crunched a pair of backhands to seal that break. Gauff 1-2* Sabalenka Uh oh. Gauff goes wide, and worried about Sabalenka's brutal response to most second serves, overdoes it and double-faults. 0-30. Stinging return, return plus one whistles past Gauff's left. Sabalenka then sends Gauff careering to her left again, super get, before flipping her to the far right of the court. Again, Gauff has the foot speed to get there, but Sabalenka can calmly steer a volley into open court. A break to love after a hold to love. Sabalenka is cooking. Getty Images There's the first drop shot from Sabalenka. Increasingly such an important part of her arsenal. It works well, drawing a missed Gauff forehand for 40-0. Sabalenka holds to love to level things at 1-1. Getty Images Gauff *1-1 Sabalenka Wow, Aryna Sabalenka laughs in the face of danger and looks jeopardy in the whites of its eyes. She flings loads of torque into a second serve and it's an ace out wide! You don't see that often. Another booming drive to Gauff's right, 30-0. Sabalenka has the silk as well as the steel, though, throwing in a drop shot and even the quickest player on the tour can't capitalise, spooning her cross-court effort wide. Big serve, again, return wide. 1-1. Getty Images It's a warmish afternoon, not much of a breeze. Pretty mild conditions. Big noise for Gauff as she holds to 30 to take the first game of the match. Seems like the crowd are pretty evenly split at this point, we'll see how that develops as the match goes on. Gauff 1-0* Sabalenka Gauff's first serve is wide but Sabalenka then goes long on the second, 15-0 in the first point of the match and a nice little nerve-settle for the slight underdog. Two wild swipes after robust returns from Sabalenka, 15-30, but a big serve makes it 30-30. Sabalenka is on top of the rally after eyeing up a slower second serve, but Gauff changes the pace with a slice and Sabalenka nets. A seriously spinning forehand into the bottom-right corner of the court and Sabalenka nets again. Getty Images Top seed Aryna Sabalenka against second seed Coco Gauff. On the red clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier, Roland Garros' show court, the showpiece at the 2025 French Open. Gauff to serve first. And it's live!
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Former Tennis Star Pete Sampras Spotted in L.A. During Rare Public Appearance After Retirement Over 2 Decades Ago
NEED TO KNOW Pete Sampras, the former tennis star known as "Pistol Pete," was spotted during a rare public appearance on June 3 The athlete was seen while he made a coffee run in Beverly Hills Sampras, who retired over two decades ago in 2002, is well-known as one of the greatest tennis players of all time Pete Sampras was seen out and about during a rare public appearance. The former tennis star, 53, was spotted making a coffee run in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Tuesday, June 3. Sampras wore a dark gray Nike T-shirt and gray shorts while he carried two drinks in a beverage holder in one hand and a shopping bag in the other. Advertisement The athlete was last seen publicly in December 2024. Before that, he made a rare public appearance at the 2019 BNP Paribas Open, where he played with Novak Djokovic in an exhibition match. London Entertainment / SplashNews Pete Sampras on June 3. Pete Sampras on June 3. Sampras — also referred to as 'Pistol Pete' for his serve — is well-known as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. He began his professional tennis career in 1988, when he was 16 years old. Sampras retired in 2002 after winning a then-record 14 Grand Slam titles and ending the year ranked as the ATP No. 1 player in the world from 1993 to 1998. The Hall-of-Famer, inducted in 2007, famously won seven Wimbledon titles, five U.S. Open championships and two Australian Opens over the course of his illustrious career. Advertisement Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Dimitri Iundt/Corbis/VCG via Getty Pete Sampras in 1990 Pete Sampras in 1990 In recent years, Sampras has remained largely away from the public eye. Back in October 2023, he revealed that his wife Bridgette Wilson-Sampras had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. In a statement released via the AP Tour on X, Sampras said, "As most have come to know, I am a pretty quiet and private person. However, this past year has been an exceptionally challenging time for my family, and I have decided to share what's been going on." Advertisement "Last December, my wife, Bridgette, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer," Sampras continued at the time. "Since then, she has had major surgery, pushed through chemotherapy and continues with targeted maintenance therapy." CAROL NEWSOM/AFP via Getty Pete Sampras after defeating Andre Agassi on Sept. 9, 1990 Pete Sampras after defeating Andre Agassi on Sept. 9, 1990 The tennis star further opened up about how "hard" it was to "watch someone you love go through a challenge like this," and praised the couple's sons, Christian and Ryan, for "stepping up" and being "such strong supporters" for their parents. Sampras also shared praise for Wilson-Sampras in his statement, calling her an "incredible mom and wife through it all." Advertisement Sampras has been with his wife, a former actress who starred in movies like I Know What You Did Last Summer and The Wedding Planner, since 1999. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! The couple was introduced by former Los Angeles Lakers Vice President of Public Relations John Black. Sampras asked Black to connect him with Bridgette after seeing her in a film, which he shared in his 2008 book, A Champion's Mind. 'There was a bright spot to that otherwise terrible late summer — my injury was directly responsible for my wife and me meeting,' Sampras wrote. 'While I was hurt, I was watching this movie, Love Stinks, with a friend, John Black. Bridgette Wilson, an actress in the film, caught my eye. Actually, she blew me away when I saw her. I thought she was stunning.' Read the original article on People
