Latest news with #GrandSlamFinal
USA Today
3 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Carlos Alcaraz made French Open history with this absurd comeback stat
Carlos Alcaraz made French Open history with this absurd comeback stat Carlos Alcaraz becomes the first man in history to save 3 championship points to win Roland Garros. Historic things, Carlitos things. 🇪🇸 — The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 8, 2025 To take down world No. 1 Janik Sinner in the men's French Open final on Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz was always going to have to dig deep. However, I don't think anyone foresaw just how resilient the tournament's now two-time reigning champion would actually be. From start to finish, the Spaniard showed off his trademark mental toughness. After losing the first two sets to Sinner, Alcaraz was basically against the ropes. But in a match that slowly (very slowly, but in a good way) became one of the longest in men's tennis history, Alcaraz never let up. He never threw in the towel. Not only did Alcaraz come back from two sets down to tie the match up before he and Sinner engaged in a fifth-set battle of wills, but he also saved three separate championship points to stay alive. That's not a typo, and it's patently unreal to think about happening in a Grand Slam Final. It's also unreal because it's never happened before at Roland-Garros: Alcaraz saving this many championship points is what allowed him to eventually take complete control in an epic tiebreak for the fifth set and for his second consecutive French Open title. So, really savor what we just witnessed from Alcaraz in this setting. Realistically, we'll never see it again.
New York Post
14 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Post
Jannik Sinner vs. Carlos Alcaraz odds, picks: 2025 men's French Open Final predictions, best bets
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. It felt inevitable that this is where the French Open would end up, with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner playing for the title under the lights at Roland Garros on the final Sunday of the fortnight. Alcaraz and Sinner have combined to win the last five Grand Slams, but this is the first time that they'll meet with a major title on the line. And it couldn't have come at a better time. Both Alcaraz, 22, and Sinner, 23, are at the peak of their powers right now. Alcaraz vs. Sinner betting preview The Spaniard does own a 7-4 advantage in the head-to-head and has won the last four meetings, including a win in the final at the Rome Masters in May and a five-set thriller in last year's French Open semifinals. Still, Sinner could end up as the trendier bet Sunday given his flawless form. Carlos Alcaraz is the defending champion at the French Open. AFP via Getty Images The Italian has not dropped a set at Roland Garros and has won 29 straight in Grand Slams dating back to the Australian Open. Sinner will also be the fresher of the two players, since he just finished serving a three-month suspension for a banned substance in May. All Sinner has done since returning to action is win 11 of 12 matches, with 10 of the 11 victories coming via straight sets. Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps Sinner is a ridiculous 18-1 in 2025, with the lone blemish coming against Alcaraz on the dirt in Italy. Not to be outdone, Alcaraz has found another level on the clay this season. The defending champion at Roland Garros is 15-1 on the surface this season and is 30-5 overall this campaign. Alcaraz has had some iffy moments this year, most notably a bizarre loss to David Goffin at the Miami Masters, but he's got more titles (two) than losses (one) since that defeat. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will meet in a Grand Slam Final for the first time on Sunday. REUTERS Alcaraz vs. Sinner pick Alcaraz's game hasn't been as clean as Sinner's during this fortnight at Roland Garros, but that's not really a knock when comparing him to a player who hasn't dropped a set in this tournament. Alcaraz has won every match in four sets or fewer, and he's responded emphatically anytime he's been within a mile of trouble in any match. And in a match where you're going to struggle to find any decided edge, that could be a good thing for Alcaraz. While Sinner has been an incredible front-runner this entire season, he's rarely had to dig deep. The odds for this historic match couldn't be tighter. It's very rare to see a Grand Slam Final close as a pick'em, but we could be headed in that direction Sunday. You're really splitting hairs when it comes to handicapping Alcaraz vs. Sinner in a best-of-five match, but the two factors that push me toward the defending champion are his ability to defend against elite serves andthat he's dealt with some adversity in this fortnight. Those aren't the most convincing of arguments, but that's the nature of trying to find a winner in a battle between two players at the top of their game. The play: Alcaraz -110 (FanDuel) Why Trust New York Post Betting Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Carlos Alcaraz problem Jannik Sinner faces in mouthwatering French Open final
In the early days of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz's electric rivalry, as the two young men established themselves as the best players in the world, a prominent theme of their matches was the spectacular, highlight-reel points that would light up social media feeds in an instant. During the Indian Wells semi-final in 2024, after Sinner and Alcaraz chased down drop shots and angled volleys to shrieks from the crowd, the young rivals turned to each other and laughed across the net, sharing not only their disbelief but also the joy of pushing themselves to new heights. As Sinner and Alcaraz now prepare to battle for the French Open title, in their first grand slam final, it is clear that their rivalry has evolved into a generational one. While both players will hope to enjoy the moment of facing each other for one of the sport's biggest prizes, there is also now much more at stake. On Sunday, Alcaraz, 22, will bid for his second consecutive Roland Garros title and fifth grand slam. Sinner, 23, has the chance to win a third consecutive major, as well as fourth overall and first outside of the hard-court tournaments. Advertisement It will also be the first grand slam final played between two men born in the 2000s, as Novak Djokovic, who was beaten in straight-sets by the World No 1 Sinner in Friday's semi-final, left the stage for the young rivals to fill. 'Definitely great for tennis, both of them,' Djokovic said. 'I think their rivalry is something that our sport needs, no doubt. I'm sure that we're going to see them lifting the big trophies quite often.' Alcaraz defeated Sinner to win last month's Italian Open (Getty Images) Over the past 18 months, Sinner has dominated the men's ATP Tour while rising to an undisputed World No 1. He has made the French Open final in just his second tournament since returning from a three-month doping suspension without dropping a set and showed immense mental strength to close out his victory over Djokovic, denying the 38-year-old and the crowd to close out a gripping semi-final in over three hours. 'He showed why he's No 1 in the world,' Djokovic said. 'He's the best player right now,' Alcaraz said. 'He's destroying every opponent.' Sinner - who will bid to become the first Italian Roland Garros champion since Adriano Panatta in 1976 - has won 20 consecutive grand slam matches, through his US Open and Australian Open title wins, and will aim to become just the fourth man, after Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, to win three grand slam titles in a row this century. Sinner also became the first player in history to record four consecutive victories over Djokovic, the greatest of all time. Advertisement But Sinner has a problem in the French Open final, and that is Alcaraz. He has lost his last four matches in a row to the Spaniard, including his last two grand slam matches against him - both of which went to five sets. Additionally, while Sinner has gone 47-0 against the rest of the world since August, he is 0-2 against Alcaraz, who is starting to make a habit of snapping Sinner's winning streaks. His last victory over Sinner, in last month's Rome final, ended a run of 26 consecutive victories. So what makes Alcaraz so different to everyone else? While Alcaraz has played an extremely consistent clay-court season, establishing a 21-1 record while winning titles in Monte Carlo, Rome and reaching the Roland Garros final, the Spaniard lacked the consistency Sinner has shown while the No 1 was serving his doping suspension. Alcaraz was in disarray and looked lost without Sinner to play against. The presence of Sinner, on tour and across the net, raises Alcaraz's level. (Getty Images) 'If I don't play at my best, 10 out of 10, it's going to be impossible to beat him,' Alcaraz said after his straight-sets win over Sinner in the Rome final. 'That's why I'm more focused when I'm playing against him, or I feel a little bit different when I'm going to face him than other players. He has that aura. When you're seeing him at the other side of the net, it's kind of different.' Advertisement So far in their rivalry, Alcaraz's peak, or his 10 out of 10, has been higher than Sinner's, who has the higher floor. That can be the difference in the tightest matches when they go the distance. At the same time, Sinner admitted to feeling a certain pressure against Alcaraz. 'It's fun and not fun,' he smiled. 'The tension you feel before the match and during the match is a little bit different, in a way. We are both very young, we are both different, but talented.' Alcaraz has progressed to his second Roland Garros final and will aim for his fifth grand slam (Getty Images) Sinner, for example, is yet to show any signs of nerves in any of his three grand slam finals: coming from two sets down to defeat Daniil Medvedev in the 2024 Australian Open final before easing to victories over Taylor Fritz at the 2024 US Open and Alexander Zverev in defending his Australian Open crown earlier this year. But the Italian suffered from cramps when he played Alcaraz in a five-set French Open semi-final defeat last year, and has struggled when the Spaniard has pushed him over the distance. Like the best champions, Sinner has displayed a tendency to learn from tough moments and come back stronger. 'He's a player who makes me a better player,' Sinner said of Alcaraz. 'He pushes me to the limit. We try to understand where we have to improve for the next time I play against him.' Sinner has already displayed progress on the red dirt, progressing to his first major final on the surface, where he will face a true natural clay-court player in Alcaraz. Alcaraz defeated Sinner on his way to winning last year's French Open (Getty Images) Sinner and Alcaraz are yet to lose a grand slam final, amassing a 7-0 record between them, and are guaranteed to make it six grand slam titles in a row on Sunday. As the French Open brought the end of the Big Three, as Nadal waved farewell to Roland Garros and Djokovic hinted that he may soon do the same, a new era is well underway, though any comparisons remain premature. Djokovic laughed at the suggestion. 'They need to play against each for at least 10-plus years nonstop in order to be part of the same discussion,' he said. But on Sunday a rivalry will take its next step and both Sinner and Alcaraz will face their toughest test yet.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Sinner stuns Djokovic to set up French Open final clash with Alcaraz
PARIS, June 7 — Jannik Sinner said it 'doesn't get any bigger' than facing Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final, after ending Novak Djokovic's latest tilt at a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title in the last four yesterday. The world number one held off a battling Djokovic with an impressive 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) win on Court Philippe Chatrier to reach his first Roland Garros final. Sinner will face Alcaraz for a Grand Slam title for the first time on Sunday, adding another chapter to their already gripping rivalry. 'The stage, it doesn't get any bigger now. Grand Slam finals against Carlos, it's a special moment for me and for him, too,' said the three-time Grand Slam champion, who is now on a 20-match winning streak in majors. 'He won here last year, so let's see what's coming. 'But for sure, the tension you feel before the match and during the match is a little bit different in a way, because we are both very young, we are both different, but talented.' Djokovic battled hard in a dramatic semi-final that lasted three hours and 16 minutes, but three missed set points late in the third set ultimately put paid to his hopes of a comeback. Sinner, who is yet to drop a set in the tournament, will be hoping to gain revenge on Alcaraz after losing to the Spaniard in five sets in the semi-finals last year. The Italian will be playing in a maiden Slam final not on hard courts after edging 5-4 ahead in his head-to-head record with Djokovic with his fourth successive victory over the 38-year-old. Djokovic's exit ensures that a sixth successive major title will be lifted by either Sinner or world number two Alcaraz, in what appears increasingly likely to be a permanent changing of the guard. It will be the first Grand Slam final to be played between two men born in the 2000s. Alcaraz has won his last four matches against Sinner, including in the Italian Open final in May when Sinner returned from a three-month doping ban. Comparisons have already been made between their rivalry and those shared by the big three of Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. 'It takes time to compare us with the big three,' said Sinner. 'I believe that tennis or every sport needs rivalries, no? This could be potentially one of these, but there are amazing players coming up.' Djokovic was bidding to become the first man to win a Slam with victories over all of the world's top three players after beating Alexander Zverev in the quarters. Instead, he will turn his attentions to his seventh attempt to break out of a tie with Margaret Court on 24 major titles at Wimbledon next month. 'This could have been the last match ever I played here, so I don't know,' said the three-time Roland Garros champion. 'Obviously Wimbledon is next, which is my childhood favourite tournament. I'm going to do everything possible to get myself ready.' Sublime Sinner Sinner wrapped up an ultimately comfortable opening set after a break in the fifth game with a hold to love, finished off by a backhand winner. Djokovic was the better player at the start of the second set, but could not find a way through against an opponent who had not dropped serve since his opening-round win over France's Arthur Rinderknech. Sinner served out the second set at the second time of asking courtesy of a battling hold that featured two aces, one from a second serve. Djokovic called for the physio for treatment on his left leg ahead of the third set. A cacophony of noise greeted a brilliant rally that saw Djokovic bring up two set points in the 10th game. Sinner fended them both off, and then a third, before Djokovic became incensed by a line call that didn't go his way as the set headed towards a tie-break. Sinner, who like Alcaraz has never lost a Grand Slam final, completed the job in the breaker as Djokovic netted. 'Of course, it's stressful,' Sinner said when asked what it is like to face Djokovic. 'It's playing against Novak, playing against the best players in the world, you don't get moments where you can relax. He makes you feel that.' — AFP
