Carlos Alcaraz stood out from two sets and saved three games to beat Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) on Sunday and maintained his French Open Championship for the second straight year.
Alcaraz won his fifth Grand Slam Championship in many finals, winning one of his greatest comebacks in the history of the Clay Championship.
That’s even better than last year, when he trailed 2-1 against Alexander Zverev. But this time, Alcaraz imitated Novak Djokovic’s feat at Roland-Garros in the 2021 final, when the 24-time main champion fought back from two sets, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas.
“I’m just proud of it. I’m really, really happy,” Alcalaz said from Paris before praising the sinner. “I know how hard you are chasing this game. You will not be a champion, but a lot of times. It is an honor to share the court with you in every game, to make this story with you.”
It was the first time the Sinner lost the Grand Slam final but lost for the fifth straight to Alcaraz, who won his 20th career title at the age of 22.
It is also the longest French Open final ever in the Open era – five hours and 29 minutes.
After 3:43, the Sinner got his first match point. But just over five hours since the start of the game, Alcaraz won the championship 5-4.
The drama is not over yet.
Sina got an amazing recovery from another great Alcaraz shot. At the limit he could extend to, the sinner slid the ball across the net, the ball landed, the softness of autumn and the fingers of Alcaraz, making it 15-40.
When Sinner won the game 5-5, it was his turn to milk the applause, two points from the win in Game 12, while Alcaraz serves and 15-30 and is in Deuce.
But Alcaraz made a stunning cross-field backhand, making it 6-6 and forcing the deciding game, and the crowd was wild when Alcaraz’s cross-field champion scored 4-0.
The Sinner couldn’t find the defender, and Alcaraz won a great forehand defeat before falling on his back to celebrate.
He then rushed up to dance and hugged the team members in his box.
“I’m so happy for you, you deserve it, congratulations,” the 23-year-old sinner told Alkaraz. “It’s an amazing trophy, so I won’t be very good tonight, but it’s OK.”
