Alcaraz rallies back to beat Sinner in five sets to win back-to-back French Open title
PARIS, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Carlos Alcaraz rallied from two sets down and saved three match points to beat top seeded Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) on Sunday and retain his French Open title for a second straight year.
In the longest-ever French Open final that lasted over five hours, the 22-year-old Spaniard came from two sets down to become only the third man since 2000 to win back-to-back men's singles titles at Roland Garros after Rafael Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten.
The match marked the first Grand Slam men's final contested by two players born after 2000. After losing the first two sets, the defending champion clawed back with a composed third set and then saved three championship points in the fourth - eventually forcing and winning the tiebreak 7-3. Riding the momentum, he broke early in the fifth and sealed the victory in the tiebreak 10-2.
Sinner had appeared in full control for much of the match. The Italian world No. 1 took the opening set after a grueling 12-minute first game and edged a tight second set in a tiebreak. In the fourth, he broke to lead 5-3 and served for the championship, only to be denied by Alcaraz's tenacious play under pressure.
It was the first time that Sinner had lost a Grand Slam final.
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