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CARLOS Alcaraz made a barely-believable comeback on Sunday to beat world No.1 Jannik Siner in the French Open final, which lasted five and a half hours. Many have called it the most intense Grand Slam battle ever.
The Spaniard saved three Championship Points to win his fifth Grand Slam at Roland Garros, despite being two sets down.
Alcaraz, in a style that reflected his game’s skill, fitness, and poise, delivered a stunning forehand in the final to bring the 15,000 spectators on the Court Philippe-Chatrier to their toes and to win the 4-6, 6-7 (6-7), 6-4 (7-3), 7-6 (10-2), in five hours, 29 minutes. This was the longest French Open final ever.
Alcaraz, who was born in Murcia, is now the third-youngest tennis player in history, having claimed five of the most prestigious trophies. He follows in the footsteps Bjorn Borg, aged 21, and Rafael Nadal, a fellow Spaniard, age 22.
The first Grand Slam champion to ever save three Championship Points on his way to a Grand Slam final, Federer is also the only male Grand Slam champion to have done so.
READ MORE Carlos Alcaraz, of Spain, is only one win from retaining his French Open crown
Alcaraz defeated Sinner in the Grand Slam Final for the first time, despite the fact that he had been banned from drugs earlier this year. His fitness was deteriorating as the match approached its climax.
Alcaraz won nine out of ten games he played, which lasted more than three hours 50 minutes. Sinner has lost six of his seven matches.
The Eiffel Tower was watching as a boisterous and lively crowd, including celebrities like French rugby star Antoine Dupont; British Formula One driver George Russell; and American film director Spike Lee, gathered to watch the two world’s best players compete in a spectacular final.
Alcaraz and Sinner have the potential to create a rivalry akin to that between Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe, or the previous ‘Big Three’ of Novak Djokovic – defeated by Sinner in the sem-final – Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
Sinner: “I believe every rivalry is unique.” “At one time, tennis was played differently. You cannot compare the two. I was fortunate enough to have played against Novak, Rafa and other great players. It takes a lot to beat these guys. Carlos and a few other players have given me the same feelings. It’s a very special feeling. “I’m glad to be a part of it.”
READ MORE: Spain’s tennis star Carlos Alcaraz lives in a ‘small prefab bungalow’ outside historic Alicante city
Alcaraz said to his rival in his victory speech after he had fallen on the ground and covered himself in clay. It is an honor to be on the same court as you and your team in each tournament.
“It’s amazing,” he said. It was incredible to be two sets down and playing at the same level as Jannik, the world’s No.1. I just put my heart into it. I just tried to keep going and not think about the results, but to put my best tennis into the third, fourth, and fifth sets.
“The fifth is about never giving up.” It was all just fighting and thinking. “I think I managed to do it. It was all just a game of heart.
Sinner responded in a sporting manner: “Congratulations Carlos. Your performance was amazing. It was a great battle. I won’t get much sleep tonight but that’s fine.”
