PARIS — After an impeccable two weeks at the iconic Roland-Garros, Jannik Sinner stood on the precipice of his first French Open title on Sunday, showcasing an extraordinary performance on the clay courts.
In a showdown against the reigning champion, Carlos Alcaraz, the Italian ace displayed complete command of the match.
Sinner’s relentless groundstrokes, powerful serves, intense topspin, and clever variations seemed to wear down Alcaraz, who found himself trailing 5-3 and facing a daunting 0-40 in the fourth set, with three match points looming.
In those critical moments, it felt like destiny was on the side of the 23-year-old.
Then, in a dramatic turn, the tide shifted. Alcaraz mounted an incredible comeback, saving the first match point when Sinner’s forehand soared long. The second slipped away with a missed return, and the third was clinched by Alcaraz in a fierce baseline exchange.
Sinner had watched his chance fade away.
From that point onward, Alcaraz authored one of the most remarkable comebacks in Roland-Garros lore, winning the marathon final — the longest ever played on the Parisian clay at 5 hours and 29 minutes — with scores of 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2).
“That trophy is truly spectacular, so I doubt I will sleep well tonight, but that’s alright,” Sinner remarked during the awards ceremony.
The two standout players of the moment have now combined to capture the last six Grand Slam titles, primed to forge one of the sport’s most exhilarating rivalries for the foreseeable future.
Sunday’s clash was a spectacle of unparalleled intensity, brimming with fierce rallies, deft drop shots, and breathtaking passing shots — captivating a sold-out Court Philippe-Chatrier.
In his post-match press conference, Sinner sought to find silver linings in what was undoubtedly a painful loss.
“This one definitely stings,” he admitted. “There’s not much else to say right now. But I’m pleased with how I’m pushing myself to improve and getting into these positions. It was a high-caliber match, that’s for sure. I’m proud to have been part of it. Still, the outcome is tough to digest.”
The conclusion was especially hard for Sinner, who had breezed through the tournament without dropping a single set, including a commanding semifinal victory over three-time French Open champion Novak Djokovic.
Prior to facing Alcaraz, Sinner had never experienced defeat in a Grand Slam final, having won his first three. A victory would have positioned him as the fifth man in the Open Era to clinch three consecutive major titles.
“I’m confident you will become a champion, not just once, but many times over,” Alcaraz told Sinner during the trophy presentation. “Sharing the court with you and making history together is a true honor.”
Remaining at the world No. 1 spot, Sinner expressed that he will lean on his family and loved ones to navigate through this setback.
“Now it’s my time to rely on the close ones in my life,” he said. “As I’ve mentioned before, before my career took off, I could never have envisioned being in this position. It felt like a distant dream — I wasn’t even contemplating it. Now, here I am, having played the longest final in Roland-Garros history. It’s painful, yes, but at the end of the day, I can’t afford to stay in despair.”
