Carlos Alcaraz completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in Grand Slam history on Sunday as he fought back from two sets down and saved three championship points to defeat Jannik Sinner in an unforgettable French Open final.
The Spaniard triumphed 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) after five hours and 29 minutes of drama on Court Philippe Chatrier, clinching his fifth major title and extending his perfect record in Grand Slam finals to 5-0.
It marked his first comeback from two sets down and the longest final in Roland Garros history.
Alcaraz, just 22, now becomes the third youngest man in the Open Era to win five Grand Slams, following Bjorn Borg and Rafael Nadal.
The victory also snapped Sinner’s 20-match winning run at majors and denied the Italian a third straight Slam title.
Speaking after the match, Alcaraz praised his opponent: “I’m pretty sure you’ll be champion not once, but many, many times. It’s a privilege to share the court with you. Making history with you.”
It was the first major final contested by two players born in the 2000s, and it more than lived up to expectations. Sinner appeared to be in full control after taking the first two sets, the second in a tie-break, and breaking early in the third.
But Alcaraz stormed back, breaking twice in the third to stay alive and then winning the fourth in a tie-break after saving three championship points at 3-5 down.
The tension peaked in a nerve-wracking fifth set that saw both players trade breaks before Alcaraz finally held to force a deciding tie-break.
There, the Spaniard raced away with it, sealing victory on his first championship point with a forehand winner down the line. The moment sent him sprawling to the clay in disbelief.
Sinner, visibly emotional, congratulated Alcaraz with grace: “We tried our best today, we gave everything we had. I won’t sleep very well tonight, but it’s OK.”
The loss was Sinner’s fifth straight defeat to Alcaraz and came in their first Grand Slam final meeting. Alcaraz now leads their head-to-head 8-5, continuing a fierce rivalry that promises many more classics.
Alcaraz’s triumph follows his recent win over Sinner in Rome and solidifies his status as the leading man in the post-Big Three era.
