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The Independent
15 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner ignite a rivalry that can change tennis forever
Witnessing tennis history - and the longest French Open final of all time - was both a privilege and the ultimate test of bladder endurance. But thank you, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, for the five hours and 29 minutes of astonishing athleticism, spell-binding shot-making, remarkable resilience and drama of the highest order to produce a match that will forever be in the discussion for the greatest of all time. I'm not going to pretend that I saw Bjorn Borg defeat John McEnroe in the 1980 Wimbledon final, while, on a personal level, Rafael Nadal 's epic triumph over Roger Federer and the fading light on Centre Court to win the 2008 Wimbledon final will forever be tinted by a certain nostalgia that heightens the emotions. But one of the joys of witnessing what Alcaraz and Sinner produced on Sunday and feeling every point is that it is, retrospectively, impossible to properly summarise all the moments of magic and astonishing twists, as the two young rivals pushed themselves and their electric rivalry into another galaxy. I have a Google Doc that will forever now be enshrined with the title 'Alcaraz and Sinner draft', where I was making game-by-game notes, piecing together a running narrative of the final, and formulating dual intros to cover both outcomes. It reached nearly 4,000 words - the majority of which was rendered completely useless by the time Alcaraz had saved three match points to stay alive and then Sinner climbed off the canvas to force the fifth-set tiebreak. Sitting inside Court Philippe-Chatrier, you could not help being swept up by the irresistible force of Alcaraz, as the 22-year-old raised his level and took off on a staggering surge that surely no player in the sport's history could subdue. Perhaps that's a big claim, but like his epic comeback over the most successful men's player of all time, Novak Djokovic in the 2023 Wimbledon final, another all-time classic, Alcaraz played his best tennis after being backed into a corner. It's a unique quality, and a gift: the deeper the hole Alcaraz was in, the harder he fought to dig himself out. With the crowd on his side and Alcaraz riding the wave of his own momentum, it felt as if the Spaniard was unlocking new shots. Afterwards, he could barely believe where it got him. 'The level was insane,' he said. But boy was it hard not to feel for the 23-year-old Sinner, who had pushed Alcaraz to go there. When he is across the net from Alcaraz, Sinner's own qualities are even more evident: the clinical precision of his crunching groundstrokes, the awesome, effortless power he produces on both sides, and the sharpness of his movement across the baseline. His more reserved, considered personality is reflected, too, against the fire of Alcaraz on the other side of the net. There is also an aura around Sinner, though, when he walks into a room - a focus that convinces you that he will be in a position to win every grand slam title over the next 10 years. Or at least there was in Paris before Alcaraz shattered it. The World No 1 was understandably broken when he came into the media theatre an hour or so after the final. 'This one hurts,' Sinner said. There is every chance that this defeat becomes a defining moment in Sinner's career and those closest to him will have an important role to play in the coming days. But the Italian, from a small German-speaking Alpine town near the northern border, is kept grounded by his family. His dad, who is a chef at a mountain restaurant, missed the French Open final due to work. 'We are just very simple family, you know,' Sinner said. 'Nothing of our success changes in the family.' He remains the dominant World No 1, who had won 31 consecutive grand slam slams before Alcaraz forced the fourth, and who has won 47 of the 50 matches he has played since August. The problem remains Alcaraz, who is responsible for all three of those defeats, and has now won five matches in a row against his young rival, including their first grand slam final. 'It's not going to be a turning point,' Alcaraz said, fiercely. 'I'm sure he's going to learn from this match, and he's going to come back stronger the next time we are going to face against each other. I'm pretty sure he's going to [do] his homework. I repeat: I'm not going to beat him forever.' It is another element of what makes the Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry so fascinating. The rest of the world's best players are scared of Sinner and believe they can beat Alcaraz if his focus drops. But Alcaraz always raises his game against Sinner. Like Djokovic chasing Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer after they dominated grand slam titles in the unprecedented era of the 'Big Three', Alcaraz and Sinner are going to push each other to new heights every time they play. 'For the sport it's something amazing to have these players after Roger and Rafa – and Novak is still playing, of course,' said Alcaraz's coach and former World No 2 Juan Carlos Ferrero. 'They know they have to play unbelievable tennis to beat the other guy and it's something that is going to help for sure each player to raise the level even more.' There is a long way to go before two young men can join Djokovic, Nadal and Federer at that table, but they have already absorbed some of the talents and qualities of the 'Big Three' to write themselves into the record books with one of the greatest matches ever played. Alcaraz has Federer's shot-making and Nadal's intense belief, Sinner has developed Djokovic's elasticity to defend the baseline, and both have the explosive power of attacking shot that is crucial in the modern game. They are playing even faster than the generation before them. 'I'm sure that we're going to see them lifting the big trophies quite often,' Djokovic said after his defeat to Sinner in the semi-finals. Between them, they already account for six grand slam titles in a row. At 22, Alcaraz already has five, becoming a five-time champion at the same age - to the day - as his idol Nadal. Now with two French Opens and two Wimbledons, Alcaraz comes alive on the natural surfaces, but Sinner, with two Australian Opens and the US Open, has a 21-match winning run at the hard-court grand slams. And like a thrilling, extended rally between Alcaraz and Sinner, switching between unreal pace and sublime touch, we will all watch open-mouthed as they go stride for stride in a world that is now their own.
The Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- The Independent
By the numbers: Carlos Alcaraz and his performance for the ages in French Open final
Carlos Alcaraz successfully defended his French Open title on Sunday with a performance for the ages, winning the longest final at Roland-Garros in the Open era. Alcaraz produced a stunning comeback, rallying from two sets down to beat top-ranked Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) after saving three match points. Here's a by-the-numbers look at the thrilling final: 5 Alcaraz won his fifth Grand Slam title, in as many finals. The 22-year-old Spaniard became the third youngest man in history to reach that milestone after Bjorn Borg (21) and Rafael Nadal (22). And it was the fifth time in succession Alcaraz has beaten Sinner overall. 5 hours, 29 minutes This was the longest men's final at Roland-Garros. The previous record was held by Mats Wilander and Guillermo Vilas in 1982 (4 hours and 42 minutes). 3 The number of match points saved by Alcaraz. He battled back from 3–5, 0-40 down in the fourth set. He saved the first match point when Sinner sent a forehand long. Sinner missed a return on the second, then Alcaraz came out on top of a short baseline rally. Alcaraz is just the third man in the Open era to save at least one championship point on his way to a Grand Slam trophy, joining Gaston Gaudio at the 2004 French Open and Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2019. 2 It was only the second time that a men's singles Grand Slam final was decided at the fifth set tiebreaker after Dominic Thiem defeated Alexander Zverev at the 2020 U.S. Open. 9 Alcaraz is the ninth man in the Open era to rally from two sets down to win a major final. 22 The number of wins on clay for Alcaraz this year, with only one defeat. 1 Alcaraz has won a best-of-5 match after losing the opening two sets for the first time. ___
The Journal
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Journal
Quiz: How much do you know about tennis?
THE FINALS OF the 124th French Open have been happening this weekend. Whether you have a love-hate relationship with the ancient sport or you're a dedicated spectator, you might find yourself tuning in to the various championships on over the summer. Advertisement Are you any match for our tennis quiz? Test your knowledge of the sport! Where are these tennis courts located? Alamy New York City London Dubai Melbourne What term is used to describe 0 points scored by a player in a tennis match? Alamy Like Crush Love Lust How long was the longest professional tennis match ever played? Alamy 3 hours 7 hours 11 hours 15 hours Which of these players is NOT part of what became known as the 'Big Four' in male tennis between 2008 and 2016? Alamy Bjorn Borg Rafael Nadal Novak Djokovic Roger Federer What is the length of a standard tennis court, as determined by the International Tennis Federation? Alamy 68ft 78ft 88ft 98ft A 2021 biopic portrayed sisters Serena and Venus Williams' rise to tennis stardom and their father, Richard Williams' contribution to their success. What was the movie called? Tennis Queens Royal Family of Tennis Queen Serena King Richard Where is the French Open played annually? Alamy Paris Nice Marseille Bordeaux How many tennis balls does a player typically start with in a professional match? Alamy 3 4 5 6 What is the name of the technology used in tennis to determine if the ball is in or out? Alamy Birds-eye Hawk-eye Eagle-eye Evil-eye At which tennis tournament would you be most likely to find strawberries and cream? Alamy French Open Australian Open US Open Wimbledon Answer all the questions to see your result! You scored out of ! Aced it! Share your result: Share Tweet You scored out of ! Tennis Pro Your tennis knowledge is serving! Share your result: Share Tweet You scored out of ! Not up to the centre mark You need to brush up on your tennis knowledge Share your result: Share Tweet You scored out of ! No Love Lost You're not very passionate about tennis trivia Share your result: Share Tweet Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Associated Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
By the numbers: Carlos Alcaraz and his performance for the ages in French Open final
PARIS (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz successfully defended his French Open title on Sunday with a performance for the ages, winning the longest final at Roland-Garros in the Open era. Alcaraz produced a stunning comeback, rallying from two sets down to beat top-ranked Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) after saving three match points. Here's a by-the-numbers look at the thrilling final: 5 Alcaraz won his fifth Grand Slam title, in as many finals. The 22-year-old Spaniard became the third youngest man in history to reach that milestone after Bjorn Borg (21) and Rafael Nadal (22). And it was the fifth time in succession Alcaraz has beaten Sinner overall. 5 hours, 29 minutes This was the longest men's final at Roland-Garros. The previous record was held by Mats Wilander and Guillermo Vilas in 1982 (4 hours and 42 minutes). 3 The number of match points saved by Alcaraz. He battled back from 3–5, 0-40 down in the fourth set. He saved the first match point when Sinner sent a forehand long. Sinner missed a return on the second, then Alcaraz came out on top of a short baseline rally. Alcaraz is just the third man in the Open era to save at least one championship point on his way to a Grand Slam trophy, joining Gaston Gaudio at the 2004 French Open and Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2019. 2 It was only the second time that a men's singles Grand Slam final was decided at the fifth set tiebreaker after Dominic Thiem defeated Alexander Zverev at the 2020 U.S. Open. 9 Alcaraz is the ninth man in the Open era to rally from two sets down to win a major final. 22 The number of wins on clay for Alcaraz this year, with only one defeat. 1 Alcaraz has won a best-of-5 match after losing the opening two sets for the first time. ___ AP tennis:
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Carlos Alcaraz wins epic five-hour French Open final from two sets down after saving THREE match points vs Jannik Sinner
WHAT A FINAL, what an outstanding comeback, what a fabulous sporting rivalry this is. Three times Carlos Alcaraz was a point away from surrendering his grip of the French Open to the world No.1 Jannik Sinner. 3 3 3 Three times he managed somehow, in thrilling, defiant fashion, to stay alive in this spell-binding contest. And to the great delight of the majority of the well-heeled Roland Garros crowd, who were all getting excellent value for their money, the Spaniard went on to retain his status as the King of Clay in an unforgettable, historic fifth-set tie-break. More than five hours and five sets of enthralling rallies saw Alcaraz drop to his knees and burst into tears, having done what he had never done before in eight previous attempts – win a tennis match having lost the opening two sets. No man before had faced THREE Championship points on Court Phillipe-Chatrier and then ended up lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires a few hours later. A 4-6 6-7 6-4 7-6 7-6 triumph for the 22-year-old saw him bank £2.1million in prize money and lift a fifth major title, a feat only Bjorn Borg and Rafa Nadal had achieved earlier in their lives. After the longest final in the tournament's history – at five hours and 29 minutes – and second longest in the Open Era, Alcaraz became the third man this century to defend the French Open. And on his natural surface, this will go down as his hardest fought Slam success. It was gripping, edge-of-the-seat stuff, the best match so far in a Gen Z rivalry that will define men's tennis for the next 10-15 years. This was one of the greatest matches we had ever witnessed in tennis. It was exhausting to watch. Pity, too, the parents of both men who had to watch helplessly as their two sons knocked seven bells out of each other. Sinner, who drank pickle juice to avoid cramping in the fifth set, lost for the first time at a major since the 2024 Wimbledon quarter-finals. The US Open and Australian Open champion saw his 20-match winning streak come to an end as he once again lost a match that had gone past the four-hour mark. This final took place thirty-four days after his return to the sport following a controversial drugs ban. It was only on May 5 when he returned to full-time competition having served a three-month suspension for failing two doping tests in March 2024 in the United States. A shock deal was agreed with the World Anti-Doping Agency ahead of a proposed appearance at the Court of Arbitration for Sport but the settlement caused plenty of anger and furore. Sinner, 23, had been cleared of any wrongdoing by an independent panel after testing positive for the banned substance clostebol, which he claims entered his system via massages from his physiotherapist. This showpiece occasion will surely be the first of many occasions when Sinner and Alcaraz, both under the age of 24, will contest a Grand Slam final. Theirs is a rivalry that will define the next era of the sport – they already hold all of the four Slams – and this was the first men's major championship match between two stars born in the 2000s. The future is already here. Their head-to-head is also based on sportsmanship and respect – there were several moments when one of the aces swiftly conceded a point despite the officials calling the shot out. Neither warrior gave an inch in an opening set that took 65 minutes – the first game alone, which saw Jannik hold serve, lasted 12 minutes. Alcaraz was the clear favourite with the crowd and though Sinner was able to read his whipping and stinging forehand in set two, he never lost the faith that the fightback was possible. Sinner had not dropped a set at one of the four big tournaments since the fourth round of the Aussie Open – Holger Rune snatched one that day – but a sequence of 31 consecutive sets was broken in set three. Game nine of set four is one Sinner will remember for the rest of his life as he had three match points on the Alcaraz serve and yet he could not find a way past the Iberian matador. The lanky red-haired ace was being stretched to his physical capacity and it was evident he was tiring as he decided not to run for some drop shots coming his way. Commendably he remained competitive in the decisive set, breaking back when he was 5-4 down, Alcaraz's extra physicality proved crucial as he dominated the Championship tie-break. And a few metres from where there is a permanent plaque with Rafa Nadal's footprint, the current Spanish superstar was crowned clay champion once again, 90 minutes after he saved those match points. There was a lovely symmetry that the trophy was handed to him by former champion Andre Agassi, who himself had come from two sets down to shock Ukraine Andrei Medvedev in 1999. At some point, once the celebrations have stopped, Alcaraz will have to think about getting ready for his Wimbledon defence, which starts in three weeks. Because this was a bruising, physical heavyweight tie that pushed every sinew and muscle to his limits – and will live very long in the memory. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
