Alcaraz beats Sinner in five-set thriller to win French Open
Carlos Alcaraz saved three match points as he beat world number one Jannik Sinner 4-6 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(10-2) to win back-to-back French Open titles on Sunday.
The second-seeded Spaniard now has five Grand Slam titles his name to his Italian rival's three.
Alcaraz also fought back from two sets down, winning the next three sets, the last by a tie-break in a thriller at Roland Garros.
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Daily Maverick
3 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Alcaraz saves three match points to stop Sinner and retain French Open crown
The 22-year-old showed his steely determination to win the epic in five hours and 29 minutes — the longest final at Roland Garros. Carlos Alcaraz battled from the brink to outlast top seed Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) in a French Open final for the ages on Sunday to retain his crown and cement his status as the Prince of Clay in Roland-Garros' post-Rafa Nadal era. In a scintillating showdown between the torchbearers of a new generation, the 22-year-old Alcaraz saved three match points in the fourth set to continue his dominance over Sinner with his fifth straight victory over the Italian. 'I want to start with Jannik. It is amazing the level you have,' said Alcaraz, only the second man in the professional era to win all of his first five Grand Slam singles finals after 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 and in other tournaments.' The duo, who have captured seven out of the last eight Grand Slams to stamp their authority on the men's tour, were locked in a fierce battle full of dramatic momentum shifts in the first major final between two men born in the 2000s. Alcaraz showed his steely determination to win the epic in five hours and 29 minutes — the longest final at Roland Garros — soaking up the ovation from a thoroughly entertained Parisian crowd long used to Nadal's reign during his run of 14 titles. Tense start Sinner held serve in a tense five-deuce opening game lasting 12 minutes, but was broken when he fired a forehand wide, before hitting back from 2-3 and going on to snatch an intense first set following an unforced error by Alcaraz. Relentless pressure from the baseline allowed Sinner to go a break up early in the second set, and the top seed began to apply the squeeze on Alcaraz, who was on the ropes, trailing 1-4 on a sunbathed Court Philippe Chatrier. An aggressive Alcaraz came out fighting and drew loud cheers when he drew level after 10 games and then forced a tiebreak, but Sinner edged ahead with a blistering forehand winner and doubled his lead after the clock ticked past two hours. Alcaraz, who had never come back from two sets down, battled hard in the hope of avoiding his first loss in a major final and pulled a set back before saving three match points at 3-5 down in the fourth set, later restoring parity via the tiebreak. He traded breaks in the decider but prevailed in the super tiebreak to win the longest Paris men's final since tennis went professional in 1968, while Sinner had to digest a missed chance to add to his US and Australian Open wins after a doping case. Alcaraz fell to the ground before Sinner went over to his side of the court to congratulate him, and the Spaniard then ran to the stands to hug his team and celebrate. Sinner had a contemplative look, sitting on his bench, and was gracious in defeat. 'Carlos, congratulations on an amazing performance and an amazing battle. I'm happy for you. You deserve it,' he said. 'We tried our best today, we gave everything … an amazing tournament, even though it is very difficult right now. It is a big privilege for me to play here… I won't sleep very well tonight, but it is okay.' Five Slams Alcaraz has now won his five Grand Slam finals and handed Sinner his first defeat in a major final after the Italian claimed his first three at the Australian Open (2024 and 2025) and US Open (2024). Alcaraz thanked the crowd for their support, which he said helped him throughout the tournament. 'Then, Paris, guys, I mean, you have been a really important support to me since the first practice, since the first round,' he said. 'You were unbelievable. You were insane for me. I mean, I just can't, can't thank enough, you know, to you for the great support during the whole week, for today's match. 'For today's match, you were really, really important. You are in my heart, and you'll always be in my heart. So, thank you. Thank you very much, Paris. And see you next year.' Sinner was gracious in defeat. 'First of all, Carlos, congrats. An amazing performance, amazing battle, amazing job. I am very happy for you, you deserve it. It's easier to play than talking now,' said the 23-year-old Sinner, who was on a 20-match winning streak in the majors. The two finalists, who have won seven of the last eight Grand Slams to stamp their authority on the tour, were locked in a fierce battle that mesmerised the 15,000 crowd. 'To my team, thank you so much for putting me in this position. We tried our best today. We gave everything we had. Some time ago, we would've signed to be here. Still an amazing tournament, even though it's very, very difficult right now,' said Sinner. DM
eNCA
5 hours ago
- eNCA
Alcaraz saves three match points to beat Sinner to French Open title
PARIS - Carlos Alcaraz saved three championship points as he produced an astonishing fightback from two sets down to beat Jannik Sinner in a French Open final for the ages on Sunday. Reigning champion Alcaraz rallied from the brink of defeat to overcome world number one Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (10/2) to clinch his fifth Grand Slam title after five hours and 29 minutes. The 22-year-old Spaniard is now unbeaten in five Grand Slam finals after snapping Sinner's 20-match winning run at the majors. Alcaraz pulled off his first ever comeback from two sets down to stun Sinner in the longest Roland Garros final in history. It easily eclipsed the 1982 final in Paris when Mats Wilander triumphed in four sets over Guillermo Vilas in 4hr 42min. Alcaraz becomes the third youngest man to win five Grand Slams -- after Bjorn Borg and compatriot Rafael Nadal -- following an incredible duel between the two stars of a new generation. Sinner fell agonisingly short of a third successive Grand Slam crown after last year's US Open title and back-to-back Australian Open triumphs. He suffered his fifth straight loss to Alcaraz in what was their first meeting in a Grand Slam final -- and the first championship match at a major between two men born in the 2000s. Alcaraz leads 8-5 overall having also beaten Sinner to win in Rome, where the Italian returned to competition in May after a three-month doping ban. Alcaraz put the pressure on Sinner by carving out three break points to start Saturday's final, but the Italian resisted and soon had a chance of his own. He couldn't take advantage and found himself having to fend off two more break points at 1-1, producing clutch serves to grind out another tough hold. Alcaraz's persistence paid off in the fifth game when he broke to nudge 3-2 ahead, only for the Spaniard to immediately hand the lead back. The unshakeable Sinner threatened to break again at 4-3, with a brief lapse from Alcaraz eventually enabling Sinner to snatch the first set. Sinner hit the accelerator to start the second set, surging 3-0 in front. After facing seven break points in the opener, he tightened up considerably on serve. But Alcaraz brought up his first break point of the second set with Sinner serving for a two-set lead, duly pouncing on the opportunity to check his rival's momentum. With the swagger back in his step at a crucial juncture, Alcaraz sought to bring the crowd into the contest but Sinner remained unflustered in the tie-break. The first five points went with serve before Sinner whipped a forehand down the line and Alcaraz then steered an attempted drop-shot wide. A tame return into the net presented Sinner with four set points. Alcaraz saved two before Sinner unleashed a blistering cross-court forehand to move to within a set of the trophy. Alcaraz pulls off miraculous comeback It all looked to be going his way when he broke Alcaraz to begin the third set, but the Spaniard refused to surrender his title quietly and rattled off four games on the bounce to lead 4-1. Alcaraz lost serve at 5-3 but promptly broke to love to force a fourth set, lapping up the roars of the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd. That ended Sinner's run of 31 consecutive sets won at Grand Slams. Alcaraz saved a break point in the third game amid a series of holds as Sinner doubled down. The Italian appeared to be closing in on victory when he broke at 3-3 as the finish line neared. But Alcaraz had other ideas as he staved off three championship points at 3-5 and then broke Sinner when he tried to seal the title on his serve. Successive aces spurred a reinvigorated Alcaraz on in the tie-break and into a decisive fifth set. A despairing Sinner lost his serve right away and his gloom deepened as Alcaraz saved two break points to pull 3-1 ahead, but incredibly there was another twist. Alcaraz this time faltered with the title within his grasp as Sinner broke at 3-5 to spark a three-game burst that left the Spaniard needing to hold serve to prolong the final. He kept his nerve to set up a 10-point tie-break, which Alcaraz ran away with as the outrageous shotmaking continued until the very end when he took his first championship point with a sizzling forehand down the line.
IOL News
7 hours ago
- IOL News
Carlos Alcaraz saves three match points to beat Jannik Sinner to French Open title
CHAMPION! Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after winning against Italy's Jannik Sinner at the end of their men's singles final match on day 15 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on Sunday. Photo: Julien de Rosa/AFP Carlos Alcaraz saved three championship points as he produced an astonishing fightback from two sets down to beat Jannik Sinner in a French Open final for the ages on Sunday. Reigning champion Alcaraz rallied from the brink of defeat to overcome world number one Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (10/2) to clinch his fifth Grand Slam title after five hours and 29 minutes. The 22-year-old Spaniard is now unbeaten in five Grand Slam finals after snapping Sinner's 20-match winning run at the majors. Alcaraz pulled off his first ever comeback from two sets down to stun Sinner in the longest Roland Garros final in history. It easily eclipsed the 1982 final in Paris when Mats Wilander triumphed in four sets over Guillermo Vilas in 4hr 42min.
