
Forehand fury and Rafa fire: How Carlos Alcaraz's tactical brilliance blazed a Paris epic against Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz's resolve to emulate Rafael Nadal, on the very court that enshrines his idol's legacy, culminated in a performance that defied belief and etched his own name into tennis history. In defending his French Open crown, Alcaraz clinched his fifth career Grand Slam title at the exact same age—22 years, 1 month, and 3 days—as Nadal did in 2008.
Remarkably, both milestones came through unthinkable, come-from-behind victories on the sport's grandest stages. Nadal's triumph was his legendary win over Roger Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon final—often hailed as the greatest match ever played. Seventeen years later, Alcaraz staged a similarly breathtaking escape, outlasting his modern nemesis Jannik Sinner in a five-hour, 29-minute Roland Garros epic on Sunday.
"I think the real champions are made in situations when you deal with that pressure"—Alcaraz couldn't have found better words to summarize the night. More than his bounce-back ability, it was the sheer drama and audacity of the performance that ensures this match will be remembered for decades—worthy of comparison with Nadal's 2008 triumph or even Bjorn Borg's fabled 1980 Wimbledon battle with John McEnroe.
Serving at 5-3 in the fourth set, Sinner held three championship points at 0/40. The Italian, the in-form player over the past fortnight, unleashed a near-perfect stretch of tennis that left Alcaraz teetering. Yet, the Spaniard showed astonishing composure to escape the game.
Sinner had a second opportunity in the deciding set, right after breaking back. Serving at 6-5, Alcaraz trailed 15-30, but wriggled free once again—then followed it up with an impeccable display in the final-set tie-break.
Yet, beyond mental fortitude, it was Alcaraz's explosive forehand that truly scripted his monumental win. Heading into the final, the narrative centered around Sinner's near-flawless forehand—dominant throughout the Paris fortnight—while Alcaraz's had shown signs of vulnerability. The Italian's game plan was clear: target Alcaraz's forehand. But on the night it mattered most, it was that very shot that rescued the Spaniard.
Alcaraz hit 30 forehand winners and committed 35 unforced errors, for a difference of just -5. Sinner, by contrast, managed 16 winners but racked up 34 errors, yielding a far greater differential of -18. In fact, across the first two sets, both players were statistically similar on the forehand (Sinner 5/15, Alcaraz 6/17). But from the third set onward, Alcaraz surged—finishing with a +3 difference in forehand exchanges, compared to Sinner's -8.
Alcaraz also managed his backhand with restraint and precision, tallying 9 winners to 20 errors (-11), while Sinner posted 10 winners to 28 errors (-18).
Another decisive factor was Alcaraz's growing dominance in extended rallies (5+ shots). But his comeback hinged most critically on flipping the short rallies in his favor. While Sinner edged those exchanges early (by a point in the first two sets), Alcaraz dramatically turned the tide, winning 11 more points than the world No. 1 in shorter rallies over the next two sets.
In the final tie-break, Alcaraz—who had been playing catch-up for most of the night—delivered his finest tennis, hitting four winners, including the championship point: a screaming forehand passing shot down the line that left an exhausted Sinner rooted to the clay.

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


NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
This Is What Parineeti Chopra Indulged In At The French Open In Paris
Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha stepped out for a charming date on Sunday, June 8. The couple was spotted at the French Open final in Paris, watching the thrilling match between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, where Carlos clinched the victory. Parineeti gave fans a sneak peek into their outing through her Instagram Stories, and the pictures clearly showed she had a fabulous time with her husband. She also treated herself to a delicious indulgence in the City of Love. Curious about what she picked? It was the ever-popular baked pastry, pretzels. Also Read: Parineeti Chopra Enjoys Lip-Smacking Indian Food In London - See Pics Crisp and sugary on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, this delightful snack is sure to lift your mood. In one of her Stories, the Chamkila star was seen holding a paper-wrapped pretzel with a big smile. Her caption read, "But I came for the pretzel," giving a sweet nod to her dessert-loving side. Check out Parineeti Chopra's Instagram story below: Parineeti Chopra is no stranger to attending major sporting events. And of course, Raghav Chadha is right there by her side to make the day even more special. Last year, the couple watched the men's singles final of the prestigious Wimbledon Championship. Parineeti gave fans sneak peeks of the match highlights on her Instagram Stories, but it was her foodie moment that truly caught our attention. Also Read: 'Punjabi Girl' Parineeti Chopra's Latest Foodie Update Shows Her Love For Spicy Treats Sticking to Wimbledon tradition, Parineeti indulged in a classic cup of strawberries and cream. She shared a close-up shot of the creamy, fruity treat that left us absolutely drooling. "Tradition," she simply captioned the post. FYI: strawberries are "synonymous with The Championships." But these aren't just any strawberries. The specific variety served at Wimbledon is called Malling Centenary, specially chosen to elevate the spectator experience. A family-run farm is responsible for supplying these specially curated strawberries. According to the official Wimbledon website, an average of around 34.8 tonnes of strawberries are consumed during the matches each year. Click here to read the full story. Parineeti Chopra's culinary adventures are always a feast for the eyes.


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
US Open: When it starts, how to watch, what's at stake, betting odds for golf's next major
OAKMONT, Pa. — The U.S. Open long has been regarded the toughest test in golf, and this year it returns to what is arguably the toughest course in America. Oakmont Country Club outside Pittsburgh is the talk of the 125th U.S. Open, a course built in 1903 that is more about being feared than being fair. The rough is as thick as ever. The greens are as fast as any. There's also the famous Church Pew bunkers between the third and fourth holes. Scottie Scheffler shot 69 in his U.S. Open debut as a Texas teenager. He missed the cut the next day in 2016. Now he's the favorite as he comes to Oakmont having won three of his last four tournaments, including the PGA Championship. Here is a look at what you need to know leading up to the U.S. Open: Golf's second-oldest championship — it dates to 1895 — starts Thursday at 6:45 a.m. Players in groups of three will start on the first and 10th tees, morning and afternoon. The biggest names typically start on No. 10 in the morning or on No. 1 in the afternoon to get peak TV coverage. The top 60 and ties make the 36-hole cut Friday and advance to the weekend. NBC and its platforms get their first major of the year, and there is wall-to-wall coverage of the U.S. Open. Thursday starts on USA Network from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Peacock takes over until 8 p.m. Friday starts on Peacock at 6:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., and then NBC goes until 8 p.m. Saturday has USA Network from 10 a.m. to noon, and NBC goes from noon until 8 p.m. The final round Sunday starts at 9 a.m. until noon on USA Network, and NBC takes over until the end. The odds keep getting better for Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world. BetMGM Sportsbook has him at 275. Next in line is defending U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau . Rory McIlroy was the second favorite on the BetMGM Sportsbook money line last week at 700. He missed the cut at the Canadian Open last week and goes into the U.S. Open at 1200, along with Jon Rahm. They are followed by Xander Schauffele at 2200. Phil Mickelson needs the U.S. Open to complete the career Grand Slam and this likely is his last appearance. The 54-year-old Mickelson is at 25000. Scottie Scheffler is being compared to Tiger Woods based on modern statistics. He is being compared to Jack Nicklaus for the way he plays the game from tee-to-green with minimal mistakes. He has won three of his last four starts going into Oakmont. A victory at the U.S. Open would send Scheffler to the British Open with a shot at the career Grand Slam. Rory McIlroy is No. 2 and the Masters champion, along with becoming the latest player to complete the Grand Slam. There was thought the Masters title would give him freedom because he had gone 11 years without any major. But he missed the cut in Canada last week and said he found it hard to get motivated when he was practicing. Xander Schauffele is coming off a year in which he won two majors. He was out with two months because of a rib injury. But he plays this major well. Schauffele has played the U.S. Open eight times and only once has finished outside the top 10. Not to be overlooked is Bryson DeChambeau as the defending champion. He loves brute tests like Oakmont. And he was in the mix in the final round at the Masters and the PGA Championship. DeChambeau won his two U.S. Opens at Winged Foot and Pinehurst No. 2 . The U.S. Open trophy doesn't have a name. The winner also gets the gold medal named after four-time champion Jack Nicklaus. The prize money hasn't been announced yet, but it was $21.5 million last year, with $4.3 million going to the winner. The champion also gets a 10-year exemption to the U.S. Open, along with a five-year exemption to the Masters, PGA Championship and British Open. The U.S. Open has gone the longest of the four majors without a playoff. That was in 2008, when Tiger Woods famously made a 12-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force an 18-hole Monday playoff against Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines. That took 19 holes for Woods to win. Since then, the U.S. Open has gone to a two-hole aggregate playoff on the Sunday after the conclusion of regulation. That has not been used yet. There's been a lot of rain in the last week that has softened the course. The weekday rounds should be reasonably dry. But there's a good chance of thunderstorms on Saturday and lingering rain on Sunday. Bryson DeChambeau got up-and-down from 55 yards away in a bunker, making a 4-foot putt for a 1-over 71 and a one-shot victory over Rory McIlroy at Pinehurst No. 2. McIlroy had the lead late in the round but bogeyed three of his last four holes. That included missing a 30-inch par putt on the 16th hole and a par putt just inside 4 feet on the last hole. DeChambeau captured his second U.S. Open. McIlroy left without talking to the media. golf: /hub/golf


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Rafael Nadal's La Decima-winning French Open racquet sells for record price of INR 49 lakh
The Babolat racquet that Rafael Nadal used to complete La Decima at the Roland Garros eight years ago was sold at a Prestige Memorabilia auction on Sunday for a record price of $157,333.20 (INR 49.12 lakh), which included buyer's premium. It became the most expensive racquet sold at an auction, surpassing his previous record of $139,700 (INR 11.96 lakh), which he acquired at Sotheby's in 2023 by selling the racquet he used during the 2022 Australian Open, where he beat Daniil Medvedev in the final. In 2017, Nadal defeated Stan Wawrinka in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 to complete an unprecedented 10th French Open win. The win was all the more significant as he did not drop a single set en route to the title, which he won four more times in his career before retiring from professional tennis in 2024. "To find a Grand Slam Final-used racket from Rafael Nadal is rare," reads the Prestige Memorabilia lot description. "To find one photomatched across an entire clay season (and more) -- capped by a French Open title -- is unprecedented." The custom-made racquet has a 'Rafa' emblem at the throat and a sticker reading 'RG 2017 Nadal'. Nadal attended the 2025 French Open for his farewell ceremony on Court Philippe Chatrier, which was graced by the other members of the Big Four. The organisers shared a small tribute clip as the crowd, donning 'Merci Rafa' shirts, gave a standing ovation. The organising committee ended the hour-long event by unveiling the iconic plaque on Court Philippe Chatrier, bearing Nadal's footprint along with the number 14 inscribed on it. 'When I (saw) that, I thought it was going to be just for this year. Knowing that's going to be forever there, it's a present that I can't describe in words,' Nadal said at his press conference later. 'For me it was and it is and it's always going to be a huge honor and very, very emotional to have this spot on the most important court of my tennis career, without a doubt. 'It's difficult to describe the feeling, but it's something that really touched me.'