PARIS — Carlos Alcaraz pulled off a sensational comeback in the French Open final on Sunday, adding another triumph to his extraordinary record in Grand Slam finals despite often slow starts. Just when it seemed the title was slipping away, the Spaniard overturned a two-set deficit and saved three match points, ultimately defeating Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2). This victory secured Alcaraz’s fifth major trophy across as many finals, marking one of his most dramatic wins.
This year’s victory mirrors Alcaraz’s performance at last year’s French Open, where he also fell behind 2-1 in sets before surging back against Alexander Zverev. Additionally, the tennis prodigy overcame Novak Djokovic in a five-set thriller at the Wimbledon finals in 2023. Reflecting on his successful pattern in these intense matches, Alcaraz remarked, “When facing challenges, I fight on. In the heat of a Grand Slam final, there’s no room for fatigue or surrender. Do I relish these moments? True champions thrive in adversity.”
Alcaraz’s feat on Sunday carved a place in clay-court folklore, paralleling Novak Djokovic’s epic 2021 comeback at Roland Garros against Stefanos Tsitsipas. He now joins an elite group as just the ninth player in the Open Era to capture a Grand Slam title after rebounding from two sets down, a list which includes icons like Bjorn Borg and Rafael Nadal. This defeat means Sinner, who at 23 faced his first major final, has now lost to Alcaraz five times consecutively, with Alcaraz clinching his 20th career title at just 22.
In what became the longest French Open final in Open Era history, spanning an intense 5 hours and 29 minutes, Sinner edged Alcaraz in total points. Yet, the closely contested match could have swung entirely in Sinner’s favor if not for Alcaraz’s unwavering tenacity. A match point arrived for Sinner after 3 hours and 43 minutes of battle but was missed, and later, Alcaraz had his own chance to serve out the match at 5-4.
The relentless drama persisted when Sinner showcased remarkable court coverage, retrieving several crafty drop shots by Alcaraz. Just when Sinner looked poised for victory, Alcaraz displayed stunning resilience and skill, forcing a tiebreaker and thrilling the audience with a commanding cross-court winner, even as the crowd’s roars grew deafening in support.
Alcaraz sealed the match with an incredible forehand, falling to the ground in elation before sharing the victory with his team. “I’m really pleased for you, Carlos, you earned this. I might lose sleep over this one, but that’s alright,” Sinner graciously acknowledged.
Memory and courage defined critical moments, notably during the fourth set’s ninth game, where facing defeat at 5-3, Alcaraz fended off Sinner’s match points with authoritative tennis that invoked the crowd’s passionate chants of his name. His bold plays, like a fearless forehand on the line, exemplified the tenacious spirit that marks champions.
Despite the stakes, Sinner demonstrated sportsmanship, conceding Alcaraz’s point during a key moment, acknowledging an in-bound forehand without the need for umpire verification. The crowd responded warmly, cheering both players’ display of high-level tennis and character.
For fans who turned out — including a host of celebrities like Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman — the match delivered a spectacle to savor. Sinner had seemed on course for victory, but Alcaraz’s steadfast fightback offered a narrative twist as thrilling as any film cast in the imposing arena of Court Philippe-Chatrier.
As one of the most memorable finals in French Open history unfolded, Alcaraz extended his impressive record on clay to 22 wins and a single loss this year, further cementing his status as one of tennis’s formidable talents.