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.'
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an hour ago
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BBC News
an hour ago
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'How was your Sunday?' - reaction to 'King Carlos'
It was a final so engrossing that the Spanish national football team huddled around a mobile phone to watch before their Nations League meeting with Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner put on a performance for the ages as they battled over an epic five sets for the French Open into a corner after losing the opening two sets, defending champion Alcaraz came out swinging - and saved three championship points on the way - to win 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-2).Just two minutes before Spain kicked off their Nations League final against Portugal at 20:00 BST, their compatriot Alcaraz had defied the odds to complete his magnificent compatriots, who also went the distance before losing on penalties, watched at least some of his heroics as they took in their surroundings on the field at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Alcaraz could not resist posting an image of himself, external holding the Coupe des Mousquetaires, with the caption: "How was your Sunday?"And the 22-year-old received widespread praise for the manner in which he got over the line to land a fifth Grand Slam title, achieving that feat at the exact same age as his legendary compatriot Rafael Nadal - 22 years, one month and three Madrid, who Alcaraz supports, were among those to congratulate him, writing:, external "All madridistas are happy and proud of this brilliant success achieved by one of our own."Former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos re-shared a photo, external of himself and Alcaraz from 2022 - captioned "The future. And me" - with a new message, simply reading: "Told you".The PGA Tour compared and even raised Alcaraz above one of the golfing greats - 15-time major winner Tiger Woods."Five majors by age 22. Not even Tiger Woods did that," the organisation posted, from the sporting world, Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey made sure to credit Italy's Sinner as well, external, writing: "Thank you Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz for the absolute elite 'mano y mano' [hand and hand] competition. Wow." 'King Carlos the second' With an opening game lasting 12 minutes, it felt inevitable that the final between the two best players in the world would be a the end, Alcaraz and Sinner put everything on the line for five hours and 29 minutes - the longest French Open final in as the fifth set got under way at around 18:45 BST, British tennis player Naomi Broady had to make the executive call to alter her travel plans."I've just changed my Eurostar ticket because I think it is safe to say I'm not going to make the 9pm one," Broady said on BBC Radio 5 was worth it, with an emotional Broady saying afterwards she felt "so lucky that I got to be here to witness this"."It feels like this is absolutely going to be a historic moment of our sport," she British number one Greg Rusedski likened Alcaraz to Hungarian escapologist Harry Houdini, while on TNT Sports, commentator Nick Mullins crowned him "King Carlos the second - the red king in the longest Roland Garros final"."Carlos certainly didn't invent tennis, but he is perfecting it," former British player Mark Petchey added on TNT Sports. The most epic Grand Slam final ever? We've been treated to some incredible spectacles over the years, especially in the 'Big Three' era of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael who is still chasing a standalone record 25th Grand Slam title, is the only one left standing. The 38-year-old great lost in three sets to Sinner in the Paris future of men's tennis undoubtedly looks bright with Alcaraz and Sinner steering the where does their final rank in the all-time list?Tennis has seen some epic Grand Slam battles, including:Nadal v Federer - Wimbledon (2008)Nadal and Federer had to battle it out over four hours and 48 minutes (it was actually nearly seven hours due to rain delays). Nadal held off a thrilling fightback to win in five sets. Djokovic v Nadal - Australian Open (2012)Djokovic outlasted Nadal after five hours and 53 minutes to win his fifth Grand Slam title in a match that finished at 01:37 local v Djokovic - Wimbledon (2013) Andy Murray took three hours and nine minutes to see off Djokovic and ending Britain's 77-year wait for a men's Wimbledon champion. Federer v Djokovic - Wimbledon (2019)Djokovic saved two championship points in Wimbledon's longest singles final, which last four hours and 57 minutes, to beat Federer.
