Carlos Alcaraz summoned every drop of grit, belief, and brilliance to etch his name deeper into tennis folklore, saving three championship points and storming back from two sets down to defeat world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in a French Open final for the ages.
Across 5 hours and 29 minutes of high-stakes drama on Court Philippe Chatrier, the 22-year-old Spaniard defied fatigue, form, and logic to win 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2). It was the longest men’s final in Roland Garros history and the second-longest Slam final ever.
For much of the match, Sinner looked destined to lift his first Coupe des Mousquetaires. He controlled the rallies early, hitting clean through the court and capitalizing on Alcaraz’s slow start to take the first two sets and lead 5-3, 0-40 in the fourth.
But Alcaraz never blinked.
“I just believed all the time. I never doubted myself,” he said after clinching his fifth Grand Slam title. “One point at a time, that was all I was thinking.”
The crowd, buzzing with anticipation and star-studded with the likes of Dustin Hoffman and Spike Lee, roared behind Alcaraz as he clawed his way back. When the fourth-set tiebreak fell his way, the entire momentum shifted.
Sinner, chasing his fourth major, had one hand on the trophy, but couldn’t close the deal. He admitted the sting would linger. “I don’t think I will sleep very well tonight,” he said, managing a smile through the disappointment.
It was the first time in nine tries that Alcaraz had rallied from two sets down and he did it against the world No. 1. He is now a perfect 5-0 in Grand Slam finals and leads Sinner 8-4 in their head-to-head rivalry.
Even Alcaraz’s coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, confessed the odds looked grim. “But one more time with Carlos, everything is possible,” he said.
This wasn’t just about tennis. It was about the power of resilience, the refusal to fold, and the belief that miracles can happen even when you’re down and nearly out.
With his fifth Slam coming at the exact age as his idol Rafael Nadal, Alcaraz smiled: “That’s destiny, I guess.”
