Paris – A bad start in the Grand Slam Finals is nothing new to Carlos Alcaraz. And whenever it happened, he won the tournament anyway.
But it’s not the dramatic style of Sunday’s French Open Finals. The Spaniards gathered under two sets to save three match points, with Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) taking their fifth major title in many finals.
After signing a set 2-1 with Alexander Zverev in last year’s final, his second French open title, winning the third major title from behind, following a five-set victory over Novak Djokovic in the 2023 Wimbledon final.
In producing one of the biggest comebacks in the history of the Clay Court tournament on Sunday, he emulated Djokovic’s feat from the 2021 final at Roland Garros.
“I’m just proud. I’m really, really happy,” Alkaraz said before praising the sinner. “I know you’re chasing this tournament. You’re going to be a champion, once, and again.
It was the first time Thinner had lost in the Grand Slam final, but his fifth consecutive loss to Alcaraz, who won the 20th title of his career at the age of 22.
Furthermore, during the opening era, it was the longest French Open Final (5 hours, 29 minutes). It was very tight when the sinner scored 193 points and Alkaraz scored 192.
It may not have been close to those numbers.
Three hours later, 43 minutes later, the sinner had his first match point. However, just over five hours after the match began, Alcaraz took the title 5-4 up.
The drama wasn’t over yet.
Thinner made an incredible recall from yet another fantastic Alkaraz drop shot. At the limit he could stretch, the sinner slid the ball over the net and landed out of Alcaraz’s reach to make it 15-40.
When Thinner won the game to go 5-5, it was the turn to milk his applause, and he was two points away from the victory in the 12th game, Alcaraz served, 15-30, in the deuce.
However, Alcaraz made an incredible cross-court backhand, making it 6-6 and forced a tiebreaker.
“It’s amazing how support you gave me today,” Alkaraz said. “All the tournament.”
The sinner couldn’t find a way back, and Alkaraz won the match against the tiebreaker. He collapsed on his back to celebrate, then hurriedly danced and hugged his team members in a box.
“Congratulations, because I am very happy with you and you deserve it,” the 23-year-old sinner told Alkaraz. “It’s a great trophy so I won’t be able to sleep well tonight, but it’s fine.”
The sinner might not sleep at all if he was thinking about the ninth game of the fourth set.
To stay in the match 5-3 down, Alcaraz chased 0-40 and gave the sinner three match points.
The sinner may especially regret the second match point when Alcaraz was on his second serve and hit a rushed backhand that he landed immediately. He then thrusts his forehand into the net and exerts another forced error, which he makes into deuce.
The crowd chanted “Carlos, Carlos” with joy, screaming as Alcaraz hit the ace, then gave him a standing ovation when his bold forehand came in – to win that game – and he broke the level again at 5-5.
Despite just losing a chance to score another major, the sinner showed great sportsmanship and gave Alcaraz the points to give him a 30-0 lead in the 11th match.
Alkaraz’s forehand landed at the back of the courtroom and the chair judge had gone down and prepared to inspect Mark, so the criminal told her to go back as he saw the ball in it.
The crowd praised him for this, but he was clearly rooting for Alcaraz. Noise levels erupted when Alcaraz levelled the match by acquiring four sets of tiebreakers.
Now the fans had what they wanted (Alkaraz’s comeback). And fans showed their unlimited joy when he scored points with an astonishing drop shot to bounce the cross-court forehand from deep and leaps with incredible power and accuracy.
Alcaraz hit 70 winners compared to 53 people from Sinner who might have felt it was the case for Déjà Vu.
Alcaraz defeated the sinner in the French Open semi-finals last year and returned from 2-1 on the set. He defeated Italy’s open final last month Thinner – a tournament in which the sinner returned from a doping ban.
Perhaps Alcaraz was a favorite given that he owns the best record in Clay, 22-1 this year.
