Carlos Alcaraz stunned the tennis world today when he turned a two‑set deficit into a thrilling victory over world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, winning 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 to secure his second straight Roland Garros crown. The match ran over five hours and became the longest French Open final on record. Fans at the Philippe‑Chatrier court watched as Alcaraz fought back from the brink of defeat and claimed his fifth Grand Slam title.
Sinner drew first blood by taking the opening set 6-4 with aggressive serves and deep groundstrokes that kept Alcaraz on defense. He kept his momentum in the second set tiebreak, closing it 7-6 (4) with a series of sharp angles and powerful forehands. By that point, Sinner looked poised to lift his first Roland Garros trophy. Alcaraz fell behind and faced a steep hill to climb.
Yet the Spaniard refused to give in. He raised his level in the third set by stepping inside the baseline and firing winners to take that set 6-4. His renewed energy carried into the fourth set where he faced three championship points at 3-5, 0-40. At that moment, he delivered an ace out wide, then ripped a forehand winner to erase the first point. On the next championship point, he reached a booming serve that clipped the line. Next, he hit a backhand deep enough to break Sinner’s serve and draw level at 5-5. He then claimed the fourth‑set tiebreak 7-3, and the crowd roared its approval.
The match reached its climax in a deciding set that kept fans on edge. Both players held serve until 6-6 forced a final tiebreak. Sinner looked strong early but Alcaraz dug in once more, producing precise returns and fearless passing shots. He raced to a 7-2 lead and closed the super tiebreak 10-2 to seal the victory. His enormous grin at match point spoke for itself.
This final lasted 4 hours and 57 minutes, eclipsing the 1982 record of 4 hours and 42 minutes set by Mats Wilander and Guillermo Vilas. It also ranks among the longest Grand Slam finals across all four majors. Moreover, spectators saw one of the greatest comebacks in tournament history as Alcaraz overturned a 0‑set‑to‑2 deficit.
Alcaraz came into the tournament as defending champion after defeating Alexander Zverev in last year’s final. He joined Rafael Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten as the only men this century to win back‑to‑back French Open titles. At just 22 years old, he now sits one step closer to matching Nadal’s record of 14 titles at Roland Garros, though that mark still stands far ahead. Nonetheless, today’s triumph underlines his rise as a force on clay.
Sinner showed his quality throughout the fortnight. He ousted Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals and dispatched Casper Ruud in straight sets in the semis. He found a rich vein of form on Paris clay. Yet Alcaraz’s resilience proved decisive. He refused to yield at any stage and harnessed the support of the Paris crowd, who rose to their feet time and again.
Former players praised the spectacle. Tennis legend Juan Martin del Potro tweeted that both men deserved the trophy. Journalists hailed the match as a masterclass in athleticism and character. It offered proof that tennis still delivers drama at its highest level.
Alcaraz praised his opponent in his on‑court interview. He said Sinner played “incredible tennis” and called him “one of the toughest competitors I have faced.” He added that saving those championship points gave him the belief he could win. Next, he plans a short break before gearing up for Wimbledon, where he aims to compete for another major title.
In the end, this final will live long in memory. It showcased a gripping contest, historic records, and two of the sport’s brightest stars at their best. And it proved that on any given day, grit and spirit can triumph against the odds.
