‘I will start with Jannik': Carlos Alcaraz's speech after beating World No.1 in longest French Open final is epic
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the flagbearers of modern-day epic tennis rivalry, wrote a glittering, record-breaking and pulsating first chapter of what could turn out to be a regular sight for global tennis fans. The first-ever men's singles major final between players born after 2000 also turned out to be the longest French Open final, lasting five hours and 29 minutes. It was only fitting that after the match, which the Spaniard won in a comeback for the ages to defend his French Open title, both Sinner and Alcaraz started their speeches mentioning each other.
Alcaraz, who saved three match points in the fourth set to beat Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2), spent the entire first half (1 minute 15 seconds of his 3 minute 30-seconds-long on-court speech) of his winner's speech talking about Sinner. Alcaraz congratulated the World No.1 for being an inspiration to himself and millions of budding tennis players across the globe.
"I want to start with Jannik. It is amazing the level you have. Congratulations on an amazing two weeks. I know the hard work that you and your team put in every day. It is huge," Alcaraz said, turning to Sinner, who smiled and nodded. "I know how hard you are chasing this tournament. I'm sure you're gonna be a champion not once but many, many times. It's a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament, making history with you. I'm very happy to make history with you in this tournament and every other tournament. You are a huge inspiration for young kids, for me as well. I have to say thank you to you for being such a great inspiration. Good luck and all the best for what's coming," Alcaraz said.
Alcaraz's on-court speech came moments after Sinner had started his post-match speech, explaining, albeit with a bit of difficulty to formulate words after a gutwrenching loss, the greatness of the World No. 2.
"First of all, Carlos, congrats. Again, an amazing performance, amazing battle, amazing to you and your team. I'm very happy for you and you deserve it," Sinner said.
It was Alcaraz and Sinner's first appearance in a Grand Slam final. Both of them were unbeaten in slam finals. Sinner was yet to lay his hands on the French Open title and Alcaraz had not gotten off to the best of starts this year. In the head-to-head record, Alcaraz had the clear upper hand, but Sinner hadn't dropped a set in his road to the final. He even brushed aside Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the semi-final.
It was one of the most evenly matched and anticipated Grand Slam finals of recent times, and boy, did it live up to the hype. After 3 hours, 43 minutes, Sinner had his first match point. But with just over five hours since the match began, Alcaraz served for the title at 5-4 up.
The drama was still not over.
Sinner made a remarkable retrieve from yet another superb Alcaraz drop shot. At the very limit he could stretch to, Sinner glided the ball over the net, with the ball landing with the softness of an autumn leaf and out of Alcaraz's reach to make it 15-40.
When Sinner won the game to make it 5-5, it was his turn to milk the applause and he was two points away from victory in the 12th game, with Alcaraz on serve and at 15-30 and at deuce.
But Alcaraz made a staggering cross-court backhand to make it 6-6 and force a tiebreaker, with the crowd going wild when Alcaraz's cross-court winner made it 4-0.Sinner could not find a way back and Alcaraz won the match with a superb forehand pass down the line and then fell onto his back to celebrate.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
French Open 2025: Carlos Alcaraz wins a marathon in Paris, rallies from two sets down to defend title against Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz won the French Open final agaisnt Jannik Sinner after a prolonged five hour, 29 minute clash (Image via X) The Times of India at Roland Garros : Carlos Alcaraz fell on his back where he lay, looking up at Paris' early evening sky. He had taken all of five-hours and 29-minutes to defend his French Open title, collecting his second Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy. The Spaniard – a whole new vibe for the sport, muscular frame and expressive play - battled back from the brink, saving three match points in the fourth set, then overcame a wobble in the fifth to claim his fifth Major title, he remained unbeaten in Major finals. The world No.2 scored a 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) win over No.1 Jannik Sinner. The first Grand Slam men's championship match between two players born in 2000s – 21 months apart, and polar opposites in play and personality, the ice and spice of the sport – was one for the ages. It was to those notes that the French Open final teed off too on a cold, windy afternoon, with the first game of the match lasting all of 12 minutes. Sinner warded off three breakpoints in the game as the afternoon was poised to stretch into a long evening. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket's TV market and the watershed moments Alcaraz, who appeared to have some trouble with his eyes in the first set, perhaps some specks of clay had got in the way, had the trainer attend to it. When play resumed Sinner closed out the set. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Sinner, who looked more settled in the second set, opened up his arms, striking the ball freely, took a 3-0 lead. The Spaniard, who was entertaining the crowd with his tennis, even overruled a call on Sinner's serve, giving the Italian the point. Poll Who will have a brighter future in tennis? Carlos Alcaraz Jannik Sinner In the tie-break, Sinner jumped ahead 6-2, but the crowd, near 15,000 and almost all of it for the Spaniard, egged Alcaraz, who responded with the brilliance only he is capable of crafting, mixing powerful play with caressing drop shots, to narrow the lead, but Sinner dug deep. The Italian struck right back. While the 23-year-old Italian doesn't give much away by way of expression, the glances he throws at his box, at the end of virtually every point is hard to miss. Where his team is seated, is his lighthouse. It is where he turns for support and direction. In the third set, Sinner broke in the opening game, but Alcaraz won the next four to take a 4-1 lead much to the delight of the full house, who screamed themselves hoarse with calls of, come on Carlos, erupting in a wildfire of cheer. 5hr 29m - Alcaraz andSinner final isthe longest in the French Openhistory. The previous longest finalwas in 1982 when Mats Wilanderwon in four sets against GuillermoVilas in 4 hours and 47 minutes. 8 - Alcaraz is the eighthman in the Open Era(since 1968) and justthe third this century tosuccessfully defend hisRoland Garros crown. 3 - He is the thirdyoungest man inhistory (22) toreach that milestoneafter Bjorn Borg (21)and Rafael Nadal (22)
Hindustan Times
36 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Carlos Alcaraz stops signing autographs after being told about Spain's loss to Ronaldo's Portugal
It was a bittersweet day for Spanish sports fans. Tennis brought unexpected joy from the jaws of defeat, while football painted a so near yet so far story. Moments after Carlos Alcaraz scripted history after beating Jannik Sinner in an epic French Open that would go down in the folklore of Grand Slam tennis, Spain's football team lost to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League Cup final in a heartbreaking penalty shootout. Alcaraz had plenty of reasons to be elated. He had come back from two sets down and then saved three match points in the fourth set in a fairytale-like comeback to beat Jannik Sinner in the French Open final 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) to lift successive Grand Slam titles at the at Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris. Alcaraz won his fifth Grand Slam in as many finals after becoming just the third man to win a major after saving a match point. Novak Djokovic was the last to do so when he beat Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2019. He celebrated his remarkable victory over Sinner with coaches, team members, and the ball boys and girls, but a killjoy piece of information was presented to him minutes later in the locker room. The World No.2 was dejected the moment he was informed about the Spain football team's defeat to Portugal in the Nations League Cup final. Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal defeated Spain 5-3 in a penalty shootout in Munich after the match finished 2-2. Alcaraz, who sealed his victory in Paris moments after the kickoff in Munich, was informed of Spain's defeat while signing autographs and interacting with fans. The French Open champion stopped the signings and painted a dejected look upon learning of Spain's defeat in football. He put his arms on his head and immediately searched for his phone to check for updates. This happened hours after Spain's footballers were reportedly spotted watching the Alcaraz vs Sinner French Open final before the start of their final against Portugal. Their emotions after Alcaraz staged a historic comeback were captured in pre-match photos. Their joy, however, was short-lived. Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa saved Álvaro Morata's fourth penalty for Spain, then Rúben Neves converted his team's fifth to seal the win after their match finished 2-2 after extra time. Morata was the only player to miss after seeing every player score their spot kicks before him. He was inconsolable. Ronaldo had kept Portugal in the game when he equalized in the 61st minute of regular time with his record-extending 138th international goal after Mikel Oyarzabal had given Spain a halftime lead. Oyarzabal squeezed the ball past Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa in the 45th after Pedri played him in. In Paris, Alcaraz withstood three match points from 0-40 on his serve to outlast world number one Sinner in a thriller. "When the situations are against you, you have to fight, keep fighting," said Alcaraz, who had never before won a match from a two-set deficit. "I mean, it is a Grand Slam final. It's no time to be tired. It's no time to give up. It's time to keep fighting, trying to find your moment, your good place again, and just go for it. "I think the real champions are made in those situations when you deal with that pressure. I mean, that's what the real champions have done in their whole careers."
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
French Open 2025: Surly Sabalenka refuses to give Coco Gauff credit, blames herself for loss
Aryna Sabalenka in tears after the loss in the final to Coco Gauff (Image via AP /Thibault Camus) World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, devastated at losing the French Open final, refused to give credit to the champion Coco Gauff in her post-match press conference, looking at it as a final she lost rather than one the world No.2 won. The champion, unsurprisingly, disagreed. Sabalenka : Today sometimes it felt like she was hitting the ball from the frame. Somehow magically the ball lands in the court and (you) are on the backfoot. It felt like a joke, somebody above was laughing, like, 'Let's see if you can handle this.' Sabalenka : If Iga (Swiatek) would win (over) me the other day, she would go out today and get the win. Sabalenka : I was making unforced errors. I think she won the match not because she played incredible, (but) just because I made all of those mistakes from easy balls. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket's TV market and the watershed moments Sabalenka : I already have a flight booked to Mykonos and alcohol, sugar. I'm just trying to be very polite now, but there is no other word that could describe what just happened today on the court. Tequila, gummy bears, and I don't know, swimming, being like the tourist for a couple of days. Poll Who do you think deserved to win the French Open final? Aryna Sabalenka Coco Gauff Gauff disagrees Gauff : I don't agree with that… Last time I played - no shade to Iga or anything - I won in straight sets. I don't think that's a fair thing to say. The way Aryna was playing the last few weeks, she was the favourite to win. I think she was the best person that I could have played in the final. I got the hardest matchup if you go on stats alone. Obviously, Iga being a champion here, it was going to be a tough match either way. But, yeah, I think regardless of who I played, I had a good shot to win, and I definitely had that belief. You know how it played out.
