CARLOS Alcaraz, renowned for overcoming deficits in Grand Slam finals, once again showcased his extraordinary resilience on Sunday (Monday, June 9, 2025, PH time) at the French Open.
In a breathtaking five-set thriller lasting nearly five and a half hours, the Spaniard rallied from two sets down and saved three match points to defeat top-ranked Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2), securing his fifth major title in as many finals.
This victory marked Alcaraz’s second consecutive French Open title won through a comeback, mirroring his triumph last year against Alexander Zverev.
It’s his third major title secured from behind, following his five-set win against Novak Djokovic in the 2023 Wimbledon final. Alcaraz embodies the spirit of a fighter, stating, “When the situations are against you, then you have to keep fighting. It’s a Grand Slam final, it’s no time to be tired, no time to give up. Do I enjoy that? The real champions are made in those situations.”
His performance etched his name into French Open history, emulating Djokovic’s remarkable feat from the 2021 final at Roland-Garros.
Alcaraz became only the ninth player in the Open Era (since 1968) to win a Grand Slam final after trailing by two sets. This exclusive group includes legends like Bjorn Borg, Ivan Lendl, Andre Agassi, Rafael Nadal, and even Sinner. For Alcaraz, “Today it was all about the belief in myself.”
The match was an unending drama, officially recognized as the longest-ever French Open final in the Open Era. The contest was incredibly balanced, with Sinner winning 193 points to Alcaraz’s 192.
The drama peaked when Sinner earned his first match point after three hours and 43 minutes. Even with Alcaraz serving for the title later, the twists continued.
Sinner produced a remarkable retrieve from an Alcaraz drop shot, forcing Alcaraz to save match points and ultimately compelling a 6-6 tiebreaker.
Alcaraz then surged to a 4-0 lead in the tiebreaker with a cross-court winner, electrifying the crowd.
Despite the hard-fought loss, a visibly tired Sinner, facing his first Grand Slam final defeat and fifth consecutive loss to Alcaraz, showed immense sportsmanship.
Notably, in the 11th game of the fourth set, Sinner overruled the chair umpire, confirming Alcaraz’s forehand landed in, a gesture that earned polite applause.
Alcaraz hit an ace and an audacious forehand down the line to win the game and break Sinner’s serve to level the set at 5-5.
By the fifth set, fans had their desired comeback. Alcaraz ultimately won with a superb forehand pass down the line, celebrating emotionally with his team. He finished with an impressive 70 winners, compared to Sinner’s 53.
Alcaraz’s victory extends his dominant clay-court record to 22-1 this year. His 20th career title, achieved at just 22 years old, was a testament to his fighting spirit against a formidable opponent.
A star-studded audience, including Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, and Spike Lee, witnessed this classic final. After clinching the third set, a defiant Alcaraz signaled that one of the greatest French Open finals in history was just beginning. / From the wires