Carlos Alcaraz mounted a stunning comeback to defeat world No. 1 Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2) in the longest final in Roland Garros history, lasting 5 hours and 29 minutes.
The 22-year-old Spaniard saved three championship points in the fourth set before clinching victory in a fifth-set tiebreak — a feat never before accomplished in the tournament’s history, according to CNN.
Alcaraz became the sixth man ever to win a French Open final after trailing by two sets, and the youngest player since Rafael Nadal to win two consecutive men’s singles titles in Paris. He now has five Grand Slam titles, achieving the milestone at the exact age Nadal did in 2008.
The match saw both players showcase breathtaking tennis. Though Sinner outscored Alcaraz 193 to 192, the Spaniard had the final edge. Alcaraz first broke Sinner in the fifth game of the match but lost the first two sets as Sinner took control.
However, Alcaraz stormed back, breaking the Italian multiple times in the third and saving three match points at 3-5 in the fourth.
After winning that set in a tiebreak, Alcaraz broke Sinner early in the fifth. But Sinner broke back, forcing a deciding tiebreak. There, Alcaraz dominated, taking the first seven points and sealing the win 10-2.
Afterward, Alcaraz praised Sinner: “I know the hard work you’re putting in… You’re going to be a champion many times.” Sinner, visibly emotional, said: “We gave everything we had… I won’t sleep tonight very well but it’s ok.”
This match not only crowned a new champion but also marked the beginning of what promises to be an era-defining rivalry.
