Carlos Alcaraz's fate-kissed tribute to Rafa Nadal as freakish stat makes French Open win iconic: 'I'll keep it forever'
In a thrilling French Open 2025 final, Carlos Alcaraz defeated Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 after a five-hour battle. Sinner, emotionally challenged, showed vulnerability despite his typically composed demeanor, losing to the resilient Spaniard.
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NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
This Is What Parineeti Chopra Indulged In At The French Open In Paris
Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha stepped out for a charming date on Sunday, June 8. The couple was spotted at the French Open final in Paris, watching the thrilling match between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, where Carlos clinched the victory. Parineeti gave fans a sneak peek into their outing through her Instagram Stories, and the pictures clearly showed she had a fabulous time with her husband. She also treated herself to a delicious indulgence in the City of Love. Curious about what she picked? It was the ever-popular baked pastry, pretzels. Also Read: Parineeti Chopra Enjoys Lip-Smacking Indian Food In London - See Pics Crisp and sugary on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, this delightful snack is sure to lift your mood. In one of her Stories, the Chamkila star was seen holding a paper-wrapped pretzel with a big smile. Her caption read, "But I came for the pretzel," giving a sweet nod to her dessert-loving side. Check out Parineeti Chopra's Instagram story below: Parineeti Chopra is no stranger to attending major sporting events. And of course, Raghav Chadha is right there by her side to make the day even more special. Last year, the couple watched the men's singles final of the prestigious Wimbledon Championship. Parineeti gave fans sneak peeks of the match highlights on her Instagram Stories, but it was her foodie moment that truly caught our attention. Also Read: 'Punjabi Girl' Parineeti Chopra's Latest Foodie Update Shows Her Love For Spicy Treats Sticking to Wimbledon tradition, Parineeti indulged in a classic cup of strawberries and cream. She shared a close-up shot of the creamy, fruity treat that left us absolutely drooling. "Tradition," she simply captioned the post. FYI: strawberries are "synonymous with The Championships." But these aren't just any strawberries. The specific variety served at Wimbledon is called Malling Centenary, specially chosen to elevate the spectator experience. A family-run farm is responsible for supplying these specially curated strawberries. According to the official Wimbledon website, an average of around 34.8 tonnes of strawberries are consumed during the matches each year. Click here to read the full story. Parineeti Chopra's culinary adventures are always a feast for the eyes.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Rafael Nadal's La Decima-winning French Open racquet sells for record price of INR 49 lakh
The Babolat racquet that Rafael Nadal used to complete La Decima at the Roland Garros eight years ago was sold at a Prestige Memorabilia auction on Sunday for a record price of $157,333.20 (INR 49.12 lakh), which included buyer's premium. It became the most expensive racquet sold at an auction, surpassing his previous record of $139,700 (INR 11.96 lakh), which he acquired at Sotheby's in 2023 by selling the racquet he used during the 2022 Australian Open, where he beat Daniil Medvedev in the final. In 2017, Nadal defeated Stan Wawrinka in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 to complete an unprecedented 10th French Open win. The win was all the more significant as he did not drop a single set en route to the title, which he won four more times in his career before retiring from professional tennis in 2024. "To find a Grand Slam Final-used racket from Rafael Nadal is rare," reads the Prestige Memorabilia lot description. "To find one photomatched across an entire clay season (and more) -- capped by a French Open title -- is unprecedented." The custom-made racquet has a 'Rafa' emblem at the throat and a sticker reading 'RG 2017 Nadal'. Nadal attended the 2025 French Open for his farewell ceremony on Court Philippe Chatrier, which was graced by the other members of the Big Four. The organisers shared a small tribute clip as the crowd, donning 'Merci Rafa' shirts, gave a standing ovation. The organising committee ended the hour-long event by unveiling the iconic plaque on Court Philippe Chatrier, bearing Nadal's footprint along with the number 14 inscribed on it. 'When I (saw) that, I thought it was going to be just for this year. Knowing that's going to be forever there, it's a present that I can't describe in words,' Nadal said at his press conference later. 'For me it was and it is and it's always going to be a huge honor and very, very emotional to have this spot on the most important court of my tennis career, without a doubt. 'It's difficult to describe the feeling, but it's something that really touched me.'
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Sinner vs Alcaraz: The rivalry pushing tennis beyond the ‘Big 3'
One of the great joys of the Big Three era was that following the sport had a very personal touch to it – you were either in Roger Federer's corner or shouting Vamos with Rafael Nadal or taking on the world as part of Novak Djokovic's #NoleFam. There was no fence-sitting allowed. You lived every point with them and that made their triumphs feel like your own. The Big Three's incredible 66-Grand Slam run is generally considered to have begun after Federer's 2003 Wimbledon win and gone on till Djokovic's shock US Open exit in 2024 – the two decades of domination meant the players and the fandom became part of the sport's fabric. As the era draws to a close (Djokovic is still around, but fast fading), the fans were overwhelmed by a sense of loss and also a fear... would they ever be able to enjoy tennis in quite the same way again? But after watching Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner go toe-to-toe in an epic five-hour 29-minute French Open final, many of those fears might have evaporated. Once again, you are being called upon to pick a side: are you ready to get on the emotional rollercoaster with Alcaraz or do you prefer the calm nonchalance of Sinner? 'I think every rivalry is different. Back in the days, they played a little bit different tennis. Now the ball is going fast. It's very physical. It's slightly different from my point of view, but you cannot compare. I was lucky enough to play against Novak, against Rafa. In Grand Slams, Roger, I never played, unfortunately. Beating these guys, it takes a lot,' Sinner said in the press conference after the final. A post shared by Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) He added: 'I have the same feeling with Carlos and some other players. It's good to see that we can produce also tennis like this, because I think it's good for the whole movement of tennis and the crowd. It was a good atmosphere today, and also to be part of it, it's very special. Of course, I'm happy to be part of this.' And what does 'this' mean? They are world No.1 (Sinner) and world No.2 (Alcaraz). They have won seven of the last eight Grand Slams. They are good across surfaces. They are young and getting better with every outing. And because of how they play, they are drawing new fans to the sport. The key, though, is the quality of their play. The consistency, the persistence, the shot quality – they are all world class. After watching the final on Sunday, American legend John McEnroe told TNT Sports, 'You took a look at them bringing their A-game right now – I'm saying Sinner and Alcaraz against Nadal on clay – you would make a serious argument with both guys that they would be favoured to beat Nadal, at his best. 'Do I think they're going to reach... 20, 24 titles, either one of them? No. Because I think that plateau is so hard it's almost impossible; there's more depth in the game, bigger hitters, and more things happen. 'But these two guys right now, it's like when you watch the NBA and you say nobody could be better than Michael Jordan. The tennis level right now is higher than I've ever seen.' Pushing that level up is the fighting spirit that Alcaraz and Sinner display. They aren't given to exaggeration as many might argue McEnroe is, but they are the real deal. 'When the situations are against you, you have to fight and keep fighting. 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,' said Alcaraz, who saved three championship points in the fourth set, with a chuckle in his post-match press conference. 'I think the real champions are made in situations when you deal with that pressure, with those situations, in the best way possible. That's what the real champions have done in their whole careers. I'm just trying to feel comfortable in situations with pressure and not be afraid of it.' A post shared by Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) Sinner has just about swept everyone else on the ATP circuit but he needs to find a way past the 22-year-old Spaniard, who, having won their last five matches, leads the head-to-head 8-4 now. If this is to truly become their era, the Italian will need to find a way to step up even more. This rivalry could either make him or break him. 'Every match that I'm playing against him is important, honestly,' said the Spaniard, when asked about his rivalry with Sinner. 'This is the first match in a Grand Slam final. Hopefully, not the last time. As I said many times, every time that we face each other, we raise our level to the top. 'I think for the people and for the fans are important as well, our matches. If you want to win Grand Slams, you have to beat the best tennis players in the world. It feels much better when you face them in the final.' For now, the battle lines are drawn and we wait to see what miracles the new era of Alcaraz and Sinner will throw up.
