Carlos Alcaraz produced one of the greatest comebacks in Grand Slam history to defeat world number one Jannik Sinner in a pulsating five-set French Open final on Sunday, winning 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10/2) after five hours and 29 minutes, MySportDab Reports.
The 22-year-old Spaniard rallied from two sets down and saved three championship points to capture his fifth Grand Slam title and first at Roland Garros. In doing so, he became the third youngest man in history to win five majors, joining legends Bjorn Borg and Rafael Nadal.
The match was the longest final in French Open history, surpassing the 1982 showdown between Mats Wilander and Guillermo Vilas. It was also the first Grand Slam final contested by two players born in the 2000s, symbolizing a changing of the guard in men’s tennis.
Sinner, who entered the final on a 20-match winning streak in majors and was aiming for his third consecutive Grand Slam title, took early control. He claimed the first set and stormed to a 3-0 lead in the second. Although Alcaraz fought back to force a tiebreak, Sinner held firm to go up two sets to love.
Alcaraz, however, refused to fold. After falling behind early in the third set, he roared back to take it 6-4 and then edged the fourth in a tense tiebreak after saving three championship points at 5-3 down.
With momentum on his side, the Spaniard broke early in the fifth, only to see Sinner fight back and even take a 5-4 lead. But Alcaraz showed nerves of steel, forcing a deciding 10-point tiebreak, which he dominated to seal a historic victory.
“You’ll be champion many times,” Alcaraz told Sinner after the match. “It’s a privilege to make history with you.”
Sinner, though devastated, praised their effort: “We gave everything. I won’t sleep well tonight, but it’s OK.”
Alcaraz now leads their head-to-head 8-5 and has won all five of his Grand Slam finals, solidifying his status as the face of the sport’s next generation.
