Carlos Alcaraz produced one of the most dramatic comebacks in Grand Slam history to retain his French Open title on Sunday, overcoming world number one Jannik Sinner in a five-set thriller that spanned five hours and 29 minutes.
The 22-year-old Spaniard battled back from two sets down and saved three championship points to defeat Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2), earning his fifth Grand Slam title and cementing his place among tennis’s elite.
“When the situations are against you, you have to fight,” Alcaraz said after the match. “It’s a Grand Slam final—no time to be tired, no time to give up. Real champions are made in those moments when you deal with the pressure.”
Facing three match points while serving at 3-5 in the fourth set, Alcaraz displayed nerves of steel to hold and shift the momentum. He became just the third man in history to win a Grand Slam final after saving match points, joining Novak Djokovic and Gastón Gaudio in the record books.
Alcaraz’s victory also marked his fifth straight win over Sinner, extending his head-to-head lead to 8-4. Despite their fierce rivalry, the Spaniard praised the Italian’s game and predicted many more showdowns ahead.
“This was our first Grand Slam final together, hopefully not the last,” Alcaraz said. “Every time we play, we push each other to the limit.”
Sinner, aiming for his third consecutive major title after wins at the 2023 US Open and 2024 Australian Open, saw his 20-match unbeaten streak in Grand Slams come to an end. He was also bidding to become Italy’s first French Open men’s champion since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
Despite the heartbreak, Alcaraz believes his rival will bounce back. “He’s going to do his homework. I’m not going to beat him forever,” he admitted.
The epic match reaffirmed Alcaraz’s status as one of the sport’s brightest stars and added a new chapter to an emerging rivalry that could define men’s tennis for years to come.
Written By Rodney Mbua
