Alcaraz-Sinner French Open final scaled new heights, say ex-champions
PARIS - Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner took tennis to a level above that reached by even the sport's golden generation during their spellbinding French Open final on June 8, according to a host of former Roland Garros champions.
Spaniard Alcaraz, 22, saved three successive match points as he hit back from two sets down to win 4-6, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (10-2) in front of a mesmerised Paris crowd.
At five hours and 29 minutes it was the longest final at Roland Garros, smashing the previous record set by Sweden's Mats Wilander when he beat Guillermo Vilas in 1982.
"The level at the end was absolutely ridiculous," Wilander, analysing the final for broadcaster TNT, said.
'I cannot believe we will have this rivalry. They have taken our sport to another level. I never thought I'd say that after the big three – Roger (Federer), Rafa (Nadal) and Novak (Djokovic) – but it's actually faster than ever and a level that is hard to believe.'
Between them the players struck 123 winners and the quality was unrelenting as the final swayed one way and then another as they went toe-to-toe.
The final points tally was 193-192 in Sinner's favour but he fell agonisingly short of becoming the first Italian man to win the claycourt title since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
"I've seen Federer and Nadal and they played a couple of good finals but nothing comes close to this," Wilander said.
"I thought 'this is not possible' they're playing at a pace that is not human. These are two of the best athletes the human race can put forward and they happen to be tennis players. I'm not speechless often but what a wonderful day."
It was the first Grand Slam final meeting between the two Gen X trailblazers who have now scooped seven out of the last eight Grand Slam titles and with Sinner only 23, they look set to create a rivalry as compelling as those between Nadal, Federer and Djokovic.
"The first final between these two. Celestial tennis from Alcaraz in that final tie breaker," said another former French Open champion Jim Courier, who commentated on the match for TNT.
"There are days that tennis players don't forget."
Seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe said both would have beaten record 14-time French Open champion and claycourt king Nadal at his peak.
"You would make a serious argument with both guys that they would be favoured to beat Nadal, at his best," the American said. "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."
Former Roland Garros winner Andre Agassi also sounded an ominous warning for anyone hoping to dethrone Alcaraz at Wimbledon where this year he will seek a hat-trick of titles.
"Alcaraz's best surface to me, shockingly would be between here and Wimbledon. I'd actually say grass might be his best surface," the American, who presented the trophy, said.
"I mean, you gotta remember this guy has defence and speed like Novak, if not more. He has feel like Federer, you could argue at times if not more. He has RPMs in pace like Rafa. You could argue maybe even more." REUTERS
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Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
Alcaraz-Sinner French Open final scaled new heights, say ex-champions
PARIS - Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner took tennis to a level above that reached by even the sport's golden generation during their spellbinding French Open final on June 8, according to a host of former Roland Garros champions. Spaniard Alcaraz, 22, saved three successive match points as he hit back from two sets down to win 4-6, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (10-2) in front of a mesmerised Paris crowd. At five hours and 29 minutes it was the longest final at Roland Garros, smashing the previous record set by Sweden's Mats Wilander when he beat Guillermo Vilas in 1982. "The level at the end was absolutely ridiculous," Wilander, analysing the final for broadcaster TNT, said. 'I cannot believe we will have this rivalry. They have taken our sport to another level. I never thought I'd say that after the big three – Roger (Federer), Rafa (Nadal) and Novak (Djokovic) – but it's actually faster than ever and a level that is hard to believe.' Between them the players struck 123 winners and the quality was unrelenting as the final swayed one way and then another as they went toe-to-toe. The final points tally was 193-192 in Sinner's favour but he fell agonisingly short of becoming the first Italian man to win the claycourt title since Adriano Panatta in 1976. "I've seen Federer and Nadal and they played a couple of good finals but nothing comes close to this," Wilander said. "I thought 'this is not possible' they're playing at a pace that is not human. These are two of the best athletes the human race can put forward and they happen to be tennis players. I'm not speechless often but what a wonderful day." It was the first Grand Slam final meeting between the two Gen X trailblazers who have now scooped seven out of the last eight Grand Slam titles and with Sinner only 23, they look set to create a rivalry as compelling as those between Nadal, Federer and Djokovic. "The first final between these two. Celestial tennis from Alcaraz in that final tie breaker," said another former French Open champion Jim Courier, who commentated on the match for TNT. "There are days that tennis players don't forget." Seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe said both would have beaten record 14-time French Open champion and claycourt king Nadal at his peak. "You would make a serious argument with both guys that they would be favoured to beat Nadal, at his best," the American said. "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." Former Roland Garros winner Andre Agassi also sounded an ominous warning for anyone hoping to dethrone Alcaraz at Wimbledon where this year he will seek a hat-trick of titles. "Alcaraz's best surface to me, shockingly would be between here and Wimbledon. I'd actually say grass might be his best surface," the American, who presented the trophy, said. "I mean, you gotta remember this guy has defence and speed like Novak, if not more. He has feel like Federer, you could argue at times if not more. He has RPMs in pace like Rafa. You could argue maybe even more." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Straits Times
Destiny child Alcaraz treasures Nadal heritage
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 8, 2025 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with his parents, Virginia Garfia Escandon and Carlos Alcaraz Gonzalez and the trophy after winning the men's singles final against Italy's Jannik Sinner REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 8, 2025 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the trophy after winning the men's singles final against Italy's Jannik Sinner REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq PARIS - Carlos Alcaraz called it destiny as he completed a thrilling comeback to capture his fifth Grand Slam title at the French Open on Sunday, drawing level with his childhood idol Rafael Nadal's tally at the same age. The 22-year-old Spaniard, long dubbed the heir to Nadal's claycourt throne, fought back from two sets down for the first time in his career to lift the trophy in a match against world number one Jannik Sinner that he said had everything. 'The coincidence of winning my fifth Grand Slam at the same age as Rafa Nadal, I'm going to say that's destiny," Alcaraz said of equalling Nadal's tally of five major titles at the same stage of their careers. Nadal was one day younger when he beat Roger Federer in another final for the ages at Wimbledon in 2008 for his fifth Grand Slam title. "It is a stat that I'm going to keep for me forever, winning the fifth Grand Slam at the same time as Rafa, my idol, my inspiration. It's a huge honour," said Alcaraz, who beat Italy's Sinner in the longest French Open final in the professional era. In a final packed with momentum swings, blistering winners, and jaw-dropping rallies, Alcaraz credited the Paris crowd for keeping him alive as he won 4-6 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(10-2). 'Without them, it would have been impossible to come back,' he said. 'At the start of the third set, everything was going his way. I had to delete those thoughts from my mind and fight.' Alcaraz saved three match points but the moment he singled out from the match was when he was 6-5 down in the decider and struggling, turning the game in his favour to force a super tiebreak. "The match points were not great points. I saved match points, it's great but the points were not good," he said. "At 6-5 in the fifth at 15-30 or 30-all, advantage for me, 40-all. Those points I remember pretty clear, and honestly I still don't know how I did it. "I mean, it was balls on the line, slicing the line. He was dominating that game. Honestly I still don't know how I saved that game." The win not only cements Alcatraz's status among the sport's elite but also reignites talk of a new generation of rivalries with Sinner having won three Grand Slam titles. "It's not going to be a turning point. I'm sure he's going to learn from this match, and he's going to come back stronger the next time we are going to face against each other," Alcaraz said of the 23-year-old Italian. "I'm pretty sure he's going to do his homework. I'm pretty sure I'm going to try to learn from this match as well how I can be better, how I can, you know, tactically make damage in his game. "I'm not going to beat him forever. That's obvious. So I have to keep learning from the matches I played against him, and hopefully play more Grand Slam finals." Still, with a trophy in hand and history in his pocket, Alcaraz was already looking ahead. "Every match that I'm playing against him is important honestly. This is the first match in a Grand Slam final. Hopefully not the last time," he said. "Because every time that we face against each other, we raise our level to the top." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
10 hours ago
- CNA
Destiny child Alcaraz treasures Nadal heritage
PARIS :Carlos Alcaraz called it destiny as he completed a thrilling comeback to capture his fifth Grand Slam title at the French Open on Sunday, drawing level with his childhood idol Rafael Nadal's tally at the same age. The 22-year-old Spaniard, long dubbed the heir to Nadal's claycourt throne, fought back from two sets down for the first time in his career to lift the trophy in a match against world number one Jannik Sinner that he said had everything. 'The coincidence of winning my fifth Grand Slam at the same age as Rafa Nadal, I'm going to say that's destiny," Alcaraz said of equalling Nadal's tally of five major titles at the same stage of their careers. Nadal was one day younger when he beat Roger Federer in another final for the ages at Wimbledon in 2008 for his fifth Grand Slam title. "It is a stat that I'm going to keep for me forever, winning the fifth Grand Slam at the same time as Rafa, my idol, my inspiration. It's a huge honour," said Alcaraz, who beat Italy's Sinner in the longest French Open final in the professional era. In a final packed with momentum swings, blistering winners, and jaw-dropping rallies, Alcaraz credited the Paris crowd for keeping him alive as he won 4-6 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(10-2). 'Without them, it would have been impossible to come back,' he said. 'At the start of the third set, everything was going his way. I had to delete those thoughts from my mind and fight.' Alcaraz saved three match points but the moment he singled out from the match was when he was 6-5 down in the decider and struggling, turning the game in his favour to force a super tiebreak. "The match points were not great points. I saved match points, it's great but the points were not good," he said. "At 6-5 in the fifth at 15-30 or 30-all, advantage for me, 40-all. Those points I remember pretty clear, and honestly I still don't know how I did it. "I mean, it was balls on the line, slicing the line. He was dominating that game. Honestly I still don't know how I saved that game." The win not only cements Alcatraz's status among the sport's elite but also reignites talk of a new generation of rivalries with Sinner having won three Grand Slam titles. "It's not going to be a turning point. I'm sure he's going to learn from this match, and he's going to come back stronger the next time we are going to face against each other," Alcaraz said of the 23-year-old Italian. "I'm pretty sure he's going to do his homework. I'm pretty sure I'm going to try to learn from this match as well how I can be better, how I can, you know, tactically make damage in his game. "I'm not going to beat him forever. That's obvious. So I have to keep learning from the matches I played against him, and hopefully play more Grand Slam finals." Still, with a trophy in hand and history in his pocket, Alcaraz was already looking ahead. "Every match that I'm playing against him is important honestly. This is the first match in a Grand Slam final. Hopefully not the last time," he said.
