Tennis-Sinner prepares for sleepless night after dramatic loss to Alcaraz at French Open
PARIS, - World number one Jannik Sinner said he was expecting a sleepless night after agonisingly letting three championship points slip through his fingers in a five-set defeat by Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final on Sunday.
The Italian top seed wasted three match points at 5-3, 40-0 up in the fourth set and was also 6-5 up in the decider, before Alcaraz clawed his way back in dramatic fashion to win the title for the second year running.
It was the longest French Open final since tennis turned professional in 1968, lasting five hours and 29 minutes.
"I won't sleep tonight very well, but it's okay," Sinner said during the presentation ceremony. "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, 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 at the Philippe Chatrier court.
"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. But it's ok."
It was the first major final between two men born in the 2000s while Alcaraz became only the second man in the professional era to win all of his first five Grand Slam singles finals after Roger Federer.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Spaun grabs US Open lead with McIlroy, Woodland in the hunt
American J.J. Spaun seized an early one-stroke lead in Thursday's first round of the US Open with Rory McIlroy and other major winners trying to chase him down at Oakmont. Spaun was on four-under after nine holes with compatriot Gary Woodland, the 2019 US Open winner, one back after reeling off three birdies in four holes. Second-ranked McIlroy, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters in April, was in a pack on two-under with South Korean Kim Si-woo, Dane Niklas Norgaard and American Wyndham Clark, the 2023 US Open champion. Spaun sank a 20-footer for birdie at 10 to start, dropped his third shot inside three feet at the par-five 12th to set up a birdie, then birdied the par-three 16th from just outside five feet to grab the solo lead at three-under. At 17, he escaped the rough to sink an 11-foot birdie putt to reach four-under. Woodland sank a 12-foot birdie putt at the second, a 25-footer to birdie the par-five fourth and a birdie putt at the fifth from just inside four feet to pull one adrift of Spaun. McIlroy birdied the par-four 11th on a 27-foot putt and reached the green in two at the par-five 12th to set up an eight-foot birdie putt. The five-time major winner from Northern Ireland could become only the seventh player to win the Masters and US Open in the same year. Kim birdied the 11th from just inside four feet and the par-three 13th from just inside eight feet. Clark had back-to-back birdies as well on putts of just inside seven feet at the third and 16 feet at the par-five fourth, where he blasted out of a fairway bunker. Norgaard, making his US Open debut, birdied the 11th and par-three 13th on putts after about 16 feet each. Sweden's Ludvig Aberg, last year's Masters runner-up in his major debut, birdied 10 from six feet and 11 from just inside three feet but stumbled to bogey the par-five 12th after finding rough and a greenside bunker. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau was on one-under through seven. He sent his tee shot on the first hole left into fan-trampled rough, landed his approach 18 feet from the hole, ran his birdie putt nine feet past the hole and missed a comeback par putt. But DeChambeau birdied the fifth and seventh from just outside six feet to move under par. American Maxwell Moldovan made the first US Open eagle at the par-four first, holing out from the fairway from 189 yards, then looking to the heavens as he smiled, but followed with back-to-back bogeys and a double bogey at the par-three sixth. World number one Scottie Scheffler launches his bid for back-to-back major titles in the afternoon alongside US countryman Collin Morikawa, a two-time major winner ranked fourth in the world, and Norway's 14th-ranked Viktor Hovland. The world's top golfers face an ultimate challenge at Oakmont, where dense rough, sloped fast greens and tricky bunkers have DeChambeau and Scheffler among many calling it the hardest course they might ever play. "This is probably the toughest golf course in the world right now," DeChambeau said. Scheffler, whose nine wins last year included Paris Olympic gold, has won three of his past four starts. After capturing last month's PGA Championship for his third major crown, Scheffler is trying to become the first man to win consecutive majors since Jordan Spieth in 2015 by taking his first US Open title. Other afternoon starters include two-time major winners Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka. Oakmont has 168 bunkers scattered across its 7,372 yards, including Big Mouth at the 17th green and the Church Pews between the third and fourth fairways. A pedestrian bridge is in place for players and fans to cross over the Pennsylvania Turnpike in order to reach the second through eighth holes. js/ea
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Wimbledon prize pot increases as players push for greater profit share
Wimbledon prize money will increase by seven percent to a record pot of £53.5 million for this year's championships as pressure grows from players for a greater slice of Grand Slam profits. The winners of the men's and women's singles titles will each receive £3 million, an increase of more than 11 per cent on 2024, while a main draw spot is worth a minimum of £66,000, up 10 percent. The All England Club's announcement comes after growing player demands for a bigger share of revenue from the four majors. In April, 20 leading players sent a letter to the heads of the Grand Slams calling for greater contributions and discussions were held during the French Open. All England Club chairwoman Debbie Jevans said at Wimbledon's pre-tournament media briefing on Thursday the club was "absolutely committed to continuing our longstanding commitment to player compensation". "We're immensely proud of the fact that if you look back 10 years, you can see the increase over that period and seven per cent this year," she said. "We have listened to the players, we have engaged with the players. Of course we will always listen and discuss with them but the focus on just the prize money at four events, the Grand Slams, does not get to the heart of what the challenge is with tennis. "The challenge with tennis is the fact that the players don't have an off-season, which they want, they have increasing injuries that they're speaking about and we've always said that we as Wimbledon are willing to engage and talk with the tours to try and find solutions and that door remains open. "As yet, there hasn't been any proposal to us as to how the tour is able to change its structure. "There's a bigger picture here but, as a tennis player, they're always going to, I think, ask for more money." In a major change at Wimbledon this year, line judges are being replaced by a live electronic calling system. The All England club follows the Australian Open and the US Open in implementing the change, though the French Open still uses human officials. Around 80 former officials will be employed this year as match assistants, with two on each court offering support to the umpire, while they will also provide back-up should the electronic system fail. Wimbledon runs from June 30 to July 13, with Carlos Alcaraz and Barbora Krejcikova the defending champions. jw/iwd
Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
McIlroy pars, DeChambeau bogeys and Aberg leads as US Open begins
Sweden's Ludvig Aberg began with back-to-back birdies to grab the early lead at the 125th US Open on Thursday while Rory McIlroy started with a par and Bryson DeChambeau opened with a bogey. The first round teed off at intimidating Oakmont with good scores and nightmares both on offer at the iconic layout. Aberg, last year's Masters runner-up in his major debut, birdied 10 from six feet and 11 from just inside three feet to leap to the lead quickly. Champion DeChambeau sent his tee shot on the first hole left into fan-trampled rough, landed his approach 18 feet from the hole, ran his birdie putt nine feet past the hole and missed the comeback to open with a bogey. World number two McIlroy, who completed a career Grand Slam by winning the Masters in April, went off the 10th tee with major winners Shane Lowry of Ireland and Justin Rose of England. McIlroy found the fairway, dropped his approach just outside nine feet and two-putted for par. The five-time major winner from Northern Ireland could become only the seventh player to win the Masters and US Open in the same year. Oakmont was surrendering birdies and even an eagle in the early going. American Maxwell Moldovan eagled the par-four first, holing out from the fairway from 189 yards, then looking to the heavens as he smiled, but followed with a bogey at the second. Zac Blair sank a birdie putt from just beyond 43 feet at the 10th hole to launch his round while fellow American J.J. Spaun sank a 20-footer for birdie at 10. England's Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open winner, birdied the first hole from just outside 24 feet. There was misery on offer too as American Alistair Docherty opened at 10 with a double bogey and American Trent Phillips had bogeys on the first three holes. World number one Scottie Scheffler launches his bid for back-to-back major titles in the afternoon alongside US countryman Collin Morikawa, a two-time major winner ranked fourth in the world, and Norway's 14th-ranked Viktor Hovland. The world's top golfers face an ultimate challenge at Oakmont, where dense rough, sloped fast greens and tricky bunkers have DeChambeau and Scheffler among many calling it the hardest course they might ever play. "This is probably the toughest golf course in the world right now," DeChambeau said. Scheffler, whose nine wins last year included Paris Olympic gold, has won three of his past four starts. After capturing last month's PGA Championship for his third major crown, Scheffler is trying to become the first man to win consecutive majors since Jordan Spieth in 2015 by taking his first US Open title. Other afternoon starters include two-time major winners Jon Rahm and Jordan Spieth and five-time major winner Brooks Koepka. Matt Vogt, a dentist from Indianapolis and former Oakmont caddie who qualified as an amateur, struck the opening shot of the tournament at 6:45 a.m. . Oakmont has 168 bunkers scattered across its 7,372 yards, including Big Mouth at the 17th green and the Church Pews between the third and fourth fairways. A pedestrian bridge is in place for players and fans to cross over the Pennsylvania Turnpike in order to reach the second through eighth holes. The USGA plans to play the par-3 eighth hole at 301 yards at least once this week, making it the longest par-3 in major golf history. The ninth green shares part of its surface area with a putting green. js/iwd
