Carlos Alcaraz staged a remarkable comeback to defeat world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the French Open final, winning 4-6, 6-7(4/7), 6-4, 7-6(7/3), 7-6(10/2) after five hours and 29 minutes.
The 22-year-old Spaniard defended his title, becoming the ninth man in the Open Era to rally from two sets down in a major final and the third youngest to claim five Grand Slam titles, following Bjorn Borg and Rafael Nadal.
The longest French Open final in history saw Alcaraz overcome three championship points to snap Sinner’s 20-match Grand Slam winning streak. Sinner, 23, fell short of a third consecutive major title after winning the 2024 US Open and 2025 Australian Open. The match, the first Grand Slam final between players born in the 2000s, showcased the future of tennis.
Carlos Alcaraz, historical.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/r9FFPSipKA
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2025Sinner took the first set 6-4 after breaking Alcaraz in the fifth game and clinched the second 7-6(4/7) with a blistering forehand. Alcaraz fought back, breaking Sinner’s 31-set Grand Slam streak by winning the third set 6-4. Facing defeat at 3-5 in the fourth, Alcaraz saved three championship points and won the tiebreak 7-3, forcing a fifth set.
CARLOS ALCARAZ IN AN INSTANT CLASSIC! pic.twitter.com/AKGMB0Am6x
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) June 8, 2025In the decider, Alcaraz broke early but faltered when serving for the match at 5-3. Sinner levelled the score, but Alcaraz dominated the 10-point tiebreak, sealing victory with a sizzling forehand.
Alcaraz’s 8-5 head-to-head lead over Sinner, including a recent Rome win, underscores his dominance. “This was a battle for the ages,” said tennis analyst Maria Costa. The victory cements Alcaraz’s status as a clay-court king and sets the stage for future rivalries.
