In one of the most thrilling French Open finals in history, Carlos Alcaraz pulled off a heroic comeback to defeat world number one Jannik Sinner, clinching his second consecutive Roland Garros title in a five-set classic on Sunday at Court Philippe-Chatrier.
The match, lasting over five hours, was the longest final in French Open history and culminated in the tournament’s first-ever fifth-set tiebreaker. The final scoreline read:
4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) — a testament to the mental and physical battle between two of the sport’s youngest superstars.
A Match for the Ages
Alcaraz, just 22 years old, looked on the brink of defeat trailing two sets and 3-5 down in the fifth, but showcased extraordinary resilience, clawing back to force a decider. He eventually dominated the super tie break, winning 10-2, and collapsed to the clay in exhaustion and disbelief before embracing Sinner at the net.
This was the first Grand Slam final ever between players born in the 2000s, signalling the beginning of a new era in men’s tennis.
Records and Rankings
- This is Alcaraz’s fifth Grand Slam title, making him the third-youngest man to reach that milestone, behind only Bjorn Borg and Rafael Nadal.
- He becomes the first man born in the 2000s to win 20 ATP tour-level titles.
- Alcaraz now holds a 13-1 record in fifth sets, highlighting his ability to shine in the biggest moments.
- Jannik Sinner’s fifth-set record now stands at 6-10, and he remains winless in matches lasting over 3 hours 50 minutes.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Sinner retains his world number one ATP ranking, leading by 2,030 points, and holds an impressive season resume, including his Australian Open title earlier this year.
Defending Champions Club
With this win, Alcaraz joins the exclusive club of this century’s successful French Open title defenders, alongside legends like Gustavo Kuerten and Rafael Nadal.
This final marks a turning point in men’s tennis, not just for its length or scoreline, but for its symbolism — a generational shift unfolding under the Parisian sun, with Carlos Alcaraz emerging as the sport’s new warrior king.