Alcaraz saves three match points to beat Sinner in French Open final for the ages
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.
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.
Advertisement
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 after a three-month doping ban.
– © AFP 2025
Written by AFP and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe
here
.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Irish Sun
37 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Diletta Leotta almost upstages Carlos Alcaraz as DAZN presenter spills out of white dress in epic French Open final
DILETTA LEOTTA stole the show at Roland Garros - as Carlos Alcarez made history on court. The Italian presenter rocked a stunning look during her work for DAZN at the French Open. Advertisement 20 Diletta Leotta has given fans a backstage look into her French Open prep Credit: 20 The DAZN presenter gave the insight to her 9million Instagram fans Credit: 20 The 33-year-old rocked a tennis outfit for the final of the French Open Credit: 20 She classed up the look with a smart white blazer Credit: 20 Diletta took her seat at Philippe-Chatrier Court ahead of Carlos Alcaraz's comeback win Credit: 20 Lovestruck fans claimed Diletta had upstaged the five-time Slam winner Credit: Alcarez But it was fan favourite The 33-year-old rocked a gorgeous fitted white blazer as temperatures soared in Paris. She paired it with a small tennis-style white skirt, winning hearts among her 9 million-strong Instagram fanbase. Advertisement READ MORE ON TENNIS Diletta uploaded a clip of her preparing for the finale on Philippe-Chatrier Court. She dazzled in a dressing gown before taking to the stands in the French capital. One fan gasped in response: "How cute is this outfit, you look great." Another lovestruck follower added: "Blessed is that dressing gown." Advertisement Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK While a third replied: "The Sicilian Barbie." Diletta Leotta shows off new 'Bond girl' look as DAZN host puts on revealing display in low cut ski suit The Spaniard survived three Championship points in the fourth set to somehow beat Sinner at Roland Garros. Advertisement Alcarez won the five-set thriller after five hours and 29 minutes. He becomes only the third man to win a major final after saving a championship point since the Open era began in 1968. Following his epic win, Alcaraz admitted: "Every match I'm playing against him is important. 20 Carlos Alcaraz won a five-set thriller in the French Open final Credit: Alamy Advertisement "This is the first match in a Grand Slam final. "Hopefully not the last because every time we face each other, we raise our level to the top. "If you want to win Grand Slams, you have to beat the best tennis players in the world." A glimpse inside Diletta's glamorous life with football partner Loris Karius... Advertisement 20 Diletta is one of the Serie A's best loved presenters Credit: Getty 20 The 33-year-old is married to former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius Credit: INSTAGRAM / dilettaleotta 20 Diletta stunned as she presented the Turin derby on Italian TV Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta 20 The glamorous TV host put on a leggy display pitchside Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta Advertisement 20 She boasts 9 million followers on Instagram alone Credit: Getty 20 Diletta is no stranger to some extravagant outfits on her travels Credit: @dilettaleotta 20 The Italian beauty regularly updates her fans on holiday with Karius 20 She has flipped between blonde and brunette looks Credit: Advertisement 20 Dilleta has previously worn an outfit similar to her Tomb Raider look Credit: @dilettaleotta 20 She splits her time with DAZN between football and tennis Credit: Getty 20 She is a now a full-time presenter for DAZN in Italy Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta 20 Leotta burst onto the scene with Sky Sports Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta Advertisement 20 She posts regularly updates on Instagram to the delight of her fans Credit: Instagram @dilettaleotta


Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
The Schemozzle: Dominance of Dublin and Limerick may be over, but GAA anxious about lack of contenders
Professor David Hassan, chair of the GAA's Amateur Status Review Committee, was interviewed on RTÉ radio's This Week show on Sunday. Prof Hassan explained his role and that of the committee. 'The association that is the GAA has been concerned for some time regarding, I suppose, symptoms of activity that would indicate some pressure being exercised upon its amateur status,' he said. Responding to a question from host Cian McCormack about how money, or the lack of it, could afford some counties an unfair advantage, he agreed. 'I suppose that would be a concern also for the association, in so far as the competitive balance between counties has been itself under some scrutiny in recent years. Put simply, the concern is that a smaller number of counties are now realistic contenders for the All-Ireland senior football and hurling titles.' READ MORE It's interesting that, even though Limerick's hurlers and Dublin's footballers have come back to the pack , the GAA are still hopeful their flagship championships will become more open. In football, there have been four separate winners in as many years, which points to a competitive championship. In hurling, seven different counties have played in the All-Ireland senior final in as many years, which compares quite favourably with previous eras. Even the 'revolution years' of the 1990s, famous for the novel final pairings produced, only saw eight different finalists in a decade. Baptism of fire for talented goalkeeper The sideshow around the Galway hurlers' goalkeeping situation took another twist on Sunday. The Tribesmen had submitted their official team sheet for the Leinster SHC final against Kilkenny , which was distributed by the GAA on Friday. Regular number one Darach Fahy was listed between the sticks despite being suspended. In the end, Éanna Murphy lined out in goals but he picked up an injury when he tangled with Mossy Keoghan as the latter hit the net just before half-time. Enter Darragh Walsh, a talented young goalkeeper from Turloughmore. 'Darragh was goalkeeper with the 20s last year,' said Joe Canning on the Sunday Game Live. 'Darragh is a brother of Conor. Seán Walsh of Galway Bay FM, everybody probably knows him, he's his son. 'Darragh is a good goalie but still, you're going down to your third-choice goalie so it's a big occasion for him.' Co-commentator Michael Duignan chipped in. 'I think it's bigger than they're saying in the studio,' he said. 'It's huge for a young fella to come on and play his first championship game in the Leinster final.' Unfortunately for the debutant, he spilled a tricky late ball which led to Kilkenny's third goal in a 3-22 to 1-20 win for the Cats. Wexford's Jack Higgins fists a pass despite the attention of Antrim's Eoghan McCabe and Joseph Finnegan during the Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final at Wexford Park on Sunday. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho Life gets harder after Tailteann Cup success The curse of the Tailteann Cup continues. The first winners, in 2022, were Westmeath, who failed to win any of their next nine championship matches until, back in the Tailteann, they beat Antrim this year. Meath won it in 2023. Within just over a year, they had parted company with their manager, Colm O'Rourke, after winning three of 11 matches in 2024. Last year's champions were Down, who were subsequently relegated to Division Three. In fact, the form of last year's renewal looks generally suspect now. Runners-up were Laois, who finished in sixth place in Division Three and exited the Tailteann Cup with a heavy reversal against Westmeath on Saturday. Antrim also made the semis last year. A very disappointing 2025 for them, which included relegation to Division Four, was wrapped up on Sunday when they lost by 11 points to Wexford in the preliminary quarter-final. Camogie's gulf in class needs to be tackled Going by the weekend's results, camogie has a problem which won't be as easily remedied as the skorts controversy. The one-sided nature of too many matches is a real issue. In the senior championship on Saturday, Tipperary beat Wexford by 32 points (7-18 to 0-7), which wasn't even in the top two most lopsided matches. Elsewhere, Waterford defeated Derry by 43 points (5-30 to 0-2) while in the premier junior championship, Armagh were 58-point winners over Louth. Armagh led at half-time by 6-22 to 0-0 and added another 1-15 unanswered after the break for a 7-37 to 0-0 victory. These results weren't outliers, either. Derry lost by 4-25 to 0-5 against Galway in the previous round, while Cork beat Limerick by 38 points (6-25 to 0-5) on the same weekend. Quote 'Even at this early stage of the second half, it seems like it's game over.' – Darragh Maloney loses track of time as Kilkenny hurler TJ Reid hits the net in the 57th minute of the Leinster final against Galway. Number: 1-12 Dylan Hyland's scoring return for Offaly in their Tailteann Cup win over New York.


Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Timing of Hell for Leather ideal as viewers reminded why Gaelic football is GAA's code with furthest reach
Midway through the first episode of Hell for Leather, RTÉ's elegant five-part series on the history and nature of Gaelic football, we see a clip of a young boy at some kind of GAA family fun day. With his face painted like a lion, he embarks on a hectic solo run. He chips the ball over the head of the first defender and closes his eyes as he catches it on the bounce. Then tries a toe-to-hand that flies up above his head, but he keeps running, improvising as he goes, like jazz. The camera never loses sight of the boy's enraptured face and, in the slow-motion sequence, every movement he makes with the ball is uninhibited. His relationship with the game has yet to be polluted by systems and strategies and all the paraphernalia of risk management that, until recently, threatened to destroy Gaelic football. The clip is underlaid by interview footage from Juliet Murphy, the eight-time All-Ireland winner with Cork . 'With football, the skills are bunúsach ( basic),' she says, 'but they're beautiful in motion.' The opening episode focuses on football's roots. Bundled up with that are childhood memories and first feelings. Brian Fenton, one of the greatest players of the modern era, talks about knocking the pebble dash off the gable end of his family home in Dublin , in the simple act of kicking and catching. But then he talks about grown-up football trespassing on the innocence of that relationship. READ MORE 'Playing the game as a child, this is the game you love and this is all you know,' he said. 'As things got more serious – and at that elite level – you kind of lose sight of that beautiful game you played as a kid. In many ways, some of our best games were when you strip everything back and the team talk is just, 'this is the game you've played all your life. Just go out and play the game you love. Go out and play it as if you're a child again'.' A little later in the piece, Jack McCaffrey, one of Fenton's teammates on the Dublin six-in-a-row team , addressed the same theme. 'A Gaelic football match is 70-plus minutes,' he said. 'For the majority of it, you're just working like a dog. And the fact of the matter is, it's not enjoyable. But getting a ball in my hand, looking up and thinking 'let's go' – that's exciting.' The feeling that McCaffrey describes was captured by the boy with the lion painted on his face. At so many levels of the game, not just at the highest level, Gaelic football had lost contact with that feeling. It had become a fearful game of percentages and safe passing and suppressed imagination. Everybody was indentured to a plan that reduced the possibility of losing. For many teams, winning could only be considered after not losing was mastered. This philosophy had left the game in a bad state. Football is inherently more portable than hurling and more accessible The timing of Hell for Leather couldn't have been more opportune because this has been the most spectacular football season in living memory. The new rules have injected the games with excitement and scoreboard summersaults and an element of end-to-end sparring that had been absent for many years. The game had been kidnapped by coaching actuaries obsessed with the bottom line. To bring football back to life, it needed to be brainwashed. In a staggeringly short space of time, the new rules seem to have accomplished that mission. If this series had been broadcast last summer, the tone of love and celebration that courses through the interviews would have felt utterly at odds with a game trapped in a cycle of self-rebuke and black introspection. The synchronicity of the tone and the timing adds something vital. In Hell for Leather , some of Gaelic football's biggest stars talk about their first sporting love. Photograph: RTÉ The challenge for a series such as Hell for Leather is to explore something we already know and somehow make it feel like a new acquaintance. Gaelic football covers more of Ireland than any mobile phone network. When something is under our noses, how closely do we look? In the first episode, there is a terrific piece about the islands tournament that is played off in a blitz every summer. It comes and goes without any notice beyond the players and supporters who animate it. Just like with any sport, Gaelic football connects with people and communities in a million micro ways, but because football exists wherever Irish people are found, it bends to each habitat. Football is inherently more portable than hurling and more accessible. Hell for Leather is conscious of an audience that might only watch a handful of big games on telly every summer, but the passages about the origins of the game will be fascinating even to fanatics. The game had ancestors in rural Ireland, but no codified rules. One of the GAA's first big jobs was to make them up. 'As for the tackle,' says the historian Mark Duncan, 'you couldn't headbutt.' It seemed like no other holds were barred. The first match under the GAA's rules was played in Kilkenny and ended scoreless. Don't forget that Kilkenny won two Leinster football titles in the first 25 years of the GAA and contested four other Leinster finals. They don't talk about it much. [ Dean Rock: Armagh are now in an unbelievable position Opens in new window ] Hell for Leather is made by Crossing The Line, the same production house that delivered The Game, the acclaimed series on hurling. In every sense, it has the same texture: it is glossy and cinematic and earthy and soulful. In an exhaustive trawl, more than 80 interviews were conducted over five years. The filmmaker, Gerry Nelson, spent up to three hours with many of the subjects, and you can tell from the short, sharp snippets that appear on screen that Nelson kept digging beyond surface thoughts. 'When you think about football, life comes with it,' says Shane Walsh, the Galway footballer. Had he ever said that out loud before? This is an important portrait of a precious strand of Irish life. Just when football discovered the joy in life again. Hell for Leather, RTÉ One, Monday, 9.35pm