ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Carlos Alcaraz staged a remarkable comeback to defeat top seed Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) in an epic French Open final on Sunday, securing his second consecutive Roland Garros trophy and solidifying his reputation as the “Prince of Clay” in the post-Nadal era.
In a gripping contest lasting five hours and 29 minutes—the longest final in Roland Garros history—the 22-year-old Spaniard saved three match points in the fourth set to maintain his perfect record against Sinner, handing the Italian his first loss in a major after a 20-match winning streak.
Alcaraz praised his opponent after the match: “I want to start with Jannik. It’s amazing the level you have. Congratulations for an amazing two weeks \[…] I’m pretty sure you’re going to be champion not once, but many times. It’s a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament, making history with you. I’m just really happy to be able to make history with you in this tournament.”
The final showcased the rivalry between two rising stars of men’s tennis born in the 2000s, with the match featuring dramatic momentum swings and high-quality play throughout.
Sinner started strong, holding serve in a tense, 12-minute opening game before breaking Alcaraz in the fifth game and capturing the first set following an unforced error from the Spaniard. The Italian then gained a break lead early in the second set, applying relentless pressure on Alcaraz, who found himself trailing 1-4 on a bright Court Philippe Chatrier.
Refusing to yield, Alcaraz fought back to level the set and force a tiebreak, but Sinner edged ahead to take the second set and build on his advantage.
Facing adversity, Alcaraz secured the third set 6-4 and then displayed resilience by saving three match points at 3-5 in the fourth. He eventually leveled the match after winning the tiebreak. In the decisive final set, the two traded breaks before Alcaraz prevailed in a super tiebreak.
By successfully defending his title, Alcaraz became the third man this century to win back-to-back French Open crowns, joining Rafael Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten.
After the final point, Alcaraz collapsed to the ground in relief and joy, while Sinner, showing sportsmanship, approached to congratulate his rival. The Spanish champion then celebrated with his team in the stands.
The French Open’s official X account hailed him as “CARLOS II, PRINCE OF CLAY.”
Sinner reflected on the match with grace: “Carlos, congratulations on an amazing performance and an amazing battle. We tried our best today, gave everything \[…] an amazing tournament even though it is very difficult right now. It’s a big privilege for me to play here \[…] I won’t sleep very well tonight but it’s okay.”
