Carlos Alcaraz produced one of the greatest comebacks in tennis history to claim the French Open title in a five-set thriller against world No 1 Jannik Sinner. Trailing by two sets and staring down three championship points in the fourth, the 22-year-old Spaniard mounted a sensational recovery to win 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) in a match that lasted five hours and 29 minutes the longest final in Roland Garros history.
From the very beginning, the match was played at an extraordinary level. Sinner, who had dominated the tournament and entered the final with a 47-2 record since August, showed why he is the current world No 1. He took the first two sets with clinical precision, pushing Alcaraz to the brink. But as he has done so many times before, Alcaraz responded not with panic, but with belief.
In the third set, Alcaraz began to claw his way back. Feeding off the energy of a passionate crowd, he broke Sinner and raced to a 5-2 lead. With momentum swinging in his favor, he closed out the set 6-4 and roared in celebration, cupping his ears to the crowd and embracing their support.
The fourth set appeared to be slipping away when Sinner surged to a 5-3 lead and reached triple championship point on Alcaraz’s serve. But with his back against the wall, Alcaraz showed remarkable composure. One by one, he erased the match points with gutsy, high-percentage tennis, eventually holding serve and then breaking Sinner to go up 6-5. Though Sinner forced a tie-break, Alcaraz dominated it to level the match.
The final set was a brutal test of will and endurance. Though visibly fatigued, both players fought tooth and nail, refusing to give an inch. Alcaraz gained an early break, only for Sinner to break back at 5-5. At 6-5, Sinner applied immense pressure, moving within two points of the title once more. But Alcaraz dug deep again, saving himself with a stunning backhand passing shot to hold for 6-6.
In the championship tie-break, Alcaraz took control early and never looked back. He played fearlessly, hitting his forehand with lethal intent and moving fluidly despite the match’s duration. As Sinner’s level dropped slightly under the weight of the moment, Alcaraz surged ahead, taking the breaker 10-2 and collapsing to the clay in triumph.
With this extraordinary win, Alcaraz becomes the third-youngest man in history to claim five Grand Slam titles, following only Björn Borg and Rafael Nadal. He also becomes the eighth man in the Open era to successfully defend the French Open title. His clay-court season has been flawless, with a 19-0 record and titles in Monte Carlo, Rome, and now Paris.
The match was a showcase of the growing rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner, who have now firmly established themselves as the two dominant figures in men’s tennis. Their first Grand Slam final more than lived up to expectations, delivering drama, brilliance, and a glimpse into the future of the sport. Alcaraz’s win not only secures another title it cements his place in the pantheon of greats, and at just 22, his journey is still only beginning.
