Carlos Alcaraz pulled off an incredible comeback to beat world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in what many are calling one of the greatest tennis matches ever played. The Spaniard saved three championship points and won 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) after five hours and 29 minutes of thrilling tennis.
The win gives Alcaraz his fifth Grand Slam title, at the exact same age as his hero Rafael Nadal when he won his fifth. At just 22 years and one month, Alcaraz has now matched Nadal’s early career success.
The final was the first Grand Slam title match between two players born this century and saw the best two players in the world battle it out in front of a packed crowd in Paris.
Sinner had won his last 20 Grand Slam matches and looked set to win his third major in a row after going two sets up. But Alcaraz fought back with amazing determination and quality, saving championship points and winning key tiebreaks.
The final set was decided by a 10-point tie-break, with Alcaraz pulling ahead and sealing the win with a stunning forehand. He dropped to the clay in celebration after completing the comeback.
Sinner was gracious in defeat, saying: “Carlos, you played amazingly. It was a tough match, but it’s always a privilege to play here in Paris.”
The match was praised around the world. Former players and celebrities called it one of the best finals ever. Tim Henman called it “one of the greatest matches I’ve ever seen,” and John McEnroe said the level of play was even higher than in Nadal’s prime.
With both players now having won three of the last six Grand Slams between them, the future of men’s tennis looks bright, and this final will be remembered for years to come.
