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Carlos Alcaraz defends French Open title after epic tussle with Jannik Sinner

Glasgow Times

24 minutes ago

Glasgow Times

Carlos Alcaraz defends French Open title after epic tussle with Jannik Sinner

The Spaniard showed incredible reserves of energy and willpower to win a five-hour 29-minute marathon and deny world number one Sinner a third consecutive grand slam title. Instead Alcaraz claimed his fifth major crown at exactly the same age as his idol Rafael Nadal did, aged 22 years, one month and three days old. It was his fifth victory from his fifth final, which was the first at one of the slams to be played between two players born this century. It was also the first grand slam final meeting of the two young superstars of men's tennis, the best players on the planet, who have now shared the last six major titles. And it is one that will go down as a cast-iron Roland Garros classic, a final for the ages, a high-quality, heavy-hitting marathon which finished 4-6 6-7 (4) 6-4 7-6 (3) 7-6 (10-2) to the man from Murcia. After receiving the trophy – not from Nadal but from 1999 champion Andre Agassi – Alcaraz said: 'Jannik, it's amazing the level you reach. 'To everyone who came from Murcia to support me, thank you. This trophy is yours also. Carlos Alcaraz hugs Jannik Sinner after winning an epic final (Aurelien Morissard/AP) 'Paris, you have been important support for me since the first practice in the first round, I can't thank you enough. You will always be in my heart.' Italian Sinner, on a 20-match winning streak at the slams, looked certain to add the Paris title to his US and Australian Open crowns when he forged two sets ahead. He had lost his previous four matches against Alcaraz – the most recent in the Rome final last month, his first tournament after serving a three-month doping ban. But the 23-year-old has been almost untouchable in the French capital, dropping serve only three times before the final and saving 19 of the 22 break points he had faced. Some loose hitting from Alcaraz gave Sinner a break in the first game of the third, but perhaps being short of matches after his enforced absence was beginning to tell as last year's winner clawed back the deficit to force a fourth. Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy (Thibault Camus/AP) That ended a run of 31 consecutive sets won by Sinner at grand slam tournaments, stretching back to the Australian Open fourth round. With both players now playing at close to their top levels, it was Sinner who made the first move in the fourth set, breaking to love to lead 4-3. Second seed Alcaraz, scrambling to cling on to his title, then somehow saved three championship points on his own serve, before incredibly digging even deeper to break back. In the tie-break Sinner edged two points ahead but then started missing, while Alcaraz fired down back-to-back aces on his way to levelling the match. Sinner had never before won a match lasting longer than four hours – mainly because he has never really had to – but he was guzzling the pickle juice at the changeover to try and find more energy. But Alcaraz, having clinched an early break, served for the set only for Sinner to somehow chase down an outrageous drop shot to level the match again. A 10-point tie-break was needed to separate them, an early-evening shoot-out to decide the champion, and by now Alcaraz had his eye in. A glorious winner, a drop-shot and volley and some wayward shots from Sinner helped him race ahead, and a final, spectacular forehand winner sealed an unbelievable victory. Sinner said: 'First of all, congratulations Carlos. It was an amazing performance from you again. It was an amazing battle. 'It is easier to play than to talk right now. Even though it is very difficult right now, it is okay. It is a big privilege for me to be here and to play here. 'For me, Paris is a really special place. I have achieved many great things here. I'm still happy with this one. It is an amazing trophy. 'I won't sleep very well tonight but it is okay.'

Carlos Alcaraz stuns tennis legends with historic French Open final win

Metro

32 minutes ago

Metro

Carlos Alcaraz stuns tennis legends with historic French Open final win

Tennis icons were quick to hail champion Carlos Alcaraz and runner-up Jannik Sinner after their historic French Open final. The 22-year-old Spaniard fought back from two sets down to win 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (10-2), saving three championship points in the fourth set. The epic contest lastet five hours and 29 minutes, making it the longest final ever at Roland Garros. The Italian will have to wait for a first French Open title while Alcaraz defended the trophy in Paris to win his second and take his Grand Slam tally to five. Unsurprisingly his legendary compatriot and the former King of Clay, Rafael Nadal, was quick to congratulate the winner but also hail the brilliant runner-up. Nadal posted on X: 'What an incredible @rolandgarros final! 🔥. Congratulations @carlosalcaraz! 🏆💪🏼. Congrats also @janniksin for the great battle 👏🏻.' Three-time French Open champ Mats Wilander said on TNT Sports: 'Absolutely incredible. The expectations are really high when these guys face off because they've played some incredible matches 'Every match they play is so brutally physical, it's emotional, the tennis they're playing is unbelievable. 'The fact they can keep going for 5-and-a-half hours on a clay court at this level, because the level at the end was absolutely ridiculous. I cannot believe how lucky we are that we're going to have this rivalry. 'These guys have taken our sport to another level. I never thought I would say that after the big three of Rafa, Roger and Novak, it's hard to believe they can do this.' Greg Rusedski declared the match the greatest Grand Slam final he has ever witnessed, saying on BBC Radio 5: 'We said it was going to be a classic – and it really was. 'It is the greatest Grand Slam final I've ever seen. 'The emotion from Carlos Alcaraz is just unbelievable. He is down there hugging his mum, his dad and his brother. 'Let's spare a thought for Jannik Sinner though. This must be immensely painful, having had those three championship points. He is handling the situation very well but this must be a bitter disappointment for him.' More Trending Former US Open champion Marin Cilic praised the immense standard on show, posting on social media: 'One of the best 5th sets ever alongside Federer vs Nadal '08 Wimbledon + Djok vs Nadal AO 2012? Unbelievable level.' Speaking on court after his immense triumph, Alcaraz said: 'I want to start with Jannik. It is amazing the level you have, congratulations for an amazing tournament to you and your team. 'I know the hard work you put in. I know how hard you are chasing every tournament. I am sure you will be champion many, many times and it is a privilege to share the court with you and making history with you. 'I'm just really happy to be able to make history with you in this tournament, in other tournaments, you are a huge inspiration for everyone and myself. Good luck and all the best for what is coming.' MORE: Jannik Sinner reacts to heartbreaking French Open final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz MORE: England v Senegal odds: Three Lions must respond to Thomas Tuchel's criticism after poor show against Andorra MORE: Coco Gauff secures French Open title with epic comeback win over Aryna Sabalenka

South Wales Argus

36 minutes ago

South Wales Argus

Carlos Alcaraz defends French Open title after epic tussle with Jannik Sinner

The Spaniard showed incredible reserves of energy and willpower to win a five-hour 29-minute marathon and deny world number one Sinner a third consecutive grand slam title. Instead Alcaraz claimed his fifth major crown at exactly the same age as his idol Rafael Nadal did, aged 22 years, one month and three days old. It was his fifth victory from his fifth final, which was the first at one of the slams to be played between two players born this century. It was also the first grand slam final meeting of the two young superstars of men's tennis, the best players on the planet, who have now shared the last six major titles. And it is one that will go down as a cast-iron Roland Garros classic, a final for the ages, a high-quality, heavy-hitting marathon which finished 4-6 6-7 (4) 6-4 7-6 (3) 7-6 (10-2) to the man from Murcia. After receiving the trophy – not from Nadal but from 1999 champion Andre Agassi – Alcaraz said: 'Jannik, it's amazing the level you reach. 'To everyone who came from Murcia to support me, thank you. This trophy is yours also. Carlos Alcaraz hugs Jannik Sinner after winning an epic final (Aurelien Morissard/AP) 'Paris, you have been important support for me since the first practice in the first round, I can't thank you enough. You will always be in my heart.' Italian Sinner, on a 20-match winning streak at the slams, looked certain to add the Paris title to his US and Australian Open crowns when he forged two sets ahead. He had lost his previous four matches against Alcaraz – the most recent in the Rome final last month, his first tournament after serving a three-month doping ban. But the 23-year-old has been almost untouchable in the French capital, dropping serve only three times before the final and saving 19 of the 22 break points he had faced. Some loose hitting from Alcaraz gave Sinner a break in the first game of the third, but perhaps being short of matches after his enforced absence was beginning to tell as last year's winner clawed back the deficit to force a fourth. Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy (Thibault Camus/AP) That ended a run of 31 consecutive sets won by Sinner at grand slam tournaments, stretching back to the Australian Open fourth round. With both players now playing at close to their top levels, it was Sinner who made the first move in the fourth set, breaking to love to lead 4-3. Second seed Alcaraz, scrambling to cling on to his title, then somehow saved three championship points on his own serve, before incredibly digging even deeper to break back. In the tie-break Sinner edged two points ahead but then started missing, while Alcaraz fired down back-to-back aces on his way to levelling the match. Sinner had never before won a match lasting longer than four hours – mainly because he has never really had to – but he was guzzling the pickle juice at the changeover to try and find more energy. But Alcaraz, having clinched an early break, served for the set only for Sinner to somehow chase down an outrageous drop shot to level the match again. A 10-point tie-break was needed to separate them, an early-evening shoot-out to decide the champion, and by now Alcaraz had his eye in. A glorious winner, a drop-shot and volley and some wayward shots from Sinner helped him race ahead, and a final, spectacular forehand winner sealed an unbelievable victory. Sinner said: 'First of all, congratulations Carlos. It was an amazing performance from you again. It was an amazing battle. 'It is easier to play than to talk right now. Even though it is very difficult right now, it is okay. It is a big privilege for me to be here and to play here. 'For me, Paris is a really special place. I have achieved many great things here. I'm still happy with this one. It is an amazing trophy. 'I won't sleep very well tonight but it is okay.'

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Carlos Alcaraz defends French Open title after epic tussle with Jannik Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz stuns tennis legends with historic French Open final win

Carlos Alcaraz defends French Open title after epic tussle with Jannik Sinner

Tottenham opponents Bodo/Glimt in chaos as they face missing HALF their team for crunch Europa League clash

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Carlos Alcaraz defends French Open title after epic tussle with Jannik Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz stuns tennis legends with historic French Open final win

Carlos Alcaraz defends French Open title after epic tussle with Jannik Sinner

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