Alcaraz storms home to beat Sinner in five epic sets to claim French Open title

Carlos Alcaraz came back from the dead in one of the greatest of all grand slam finals, saving three match points in the fourth set before rallying to outlast Jannik Sinner and successfully defend his French Open crown.

After the longest and perhaps most epic of all Roland Garros showdowns - lasting five hours and 29 minutes - champion Alcaraz finally prevailed 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 [10-2] against world No.1 Sinner to win his fifth grand slam in a true Sunday spectacular.

There seemed no way back for the 22-year-old Spaniard when he trailed 3-5, 0-40 in the fourth set with Sinner poised to win his third slam in a row after wins in the US Open and Australian Open.

But summoning up incredible resolve as well as extraordinary brilliance, Alcaraz, on his way to winning from two sets down for the first time in his stellar career, surged back to take the fourth set and then forge into a 5-3 lead in the decider.

But again, the match wasn’t over as Sinner, defying his evident fatigue, broke back when Alcaraz served for the match at 5-4, dragging the incredible contest, full of amazing, lung-busting rallies, into a match tiebreak as it went into its sixth glorious hour.

Once more Alcaraz raised his game to sublime levels, dominating the breaker and striking one last superlative forehand on the run - incredibly, his 70th winner of the match to Sinner’s 53 - to seal the title.

It was the perfect way to end a scintillating duel between the two young modern masters - the first time a grand slam final has been contested by two men born this century - as Alcaraz enjoyed a fifth successive win over the Italian to end Sinner’s 20-match winning streak in the majors.

After receiving the trophy from 1999 champion Andre Agassi, Alcaraz paid tribute to his opponent who was returning to the grand slam arena after serving a three-month doping ban.

“Jannik, it’s amazing the level you reach,” he told Sinner at the presentation. “I am sure you will be champion many, many times and it is a privilege to share the court with you and making history with you.

“I’m just really happy to be able to make history with you in this tournament, in other tournaments. You are a huge inspiration for everyone and myself.”

Carlos Alcaraz plays a backhand at the net against Jannik Sinner during an epic contest in Paris.Credit: Getty Images

This felt like indisputable evidence that the future of men’s tennis belongs to the pair of them, as the two shooting stars have now won the last six grand slams between them. It used to be the ‘big four’; now it looks for all the world like a ‘big two’.

Their incredible joust in a final had only ever been beaten in length by the 5 hour 53 minute epic between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal at the 2012 Australian Open.

In terms of quality, though, perhaps only the Roger Federer-Rafa Nadal five-set classic at Wimbledon in 2008 could top this, even though these two youngsters were taking the power and speed levels to freakish new peaks.

Carlos Alcaraz with the French Open trophy.Credit: AP

“It is easier to play than to talk right now,” said a crestfallen Sinner. “We tried our best today. We gave everything we had. Some time ago, we would have loved to be here so it’s still been an amazing tournament.

“Even though it is very difficult right now, it is okay.”

– AAP

Coco Gauff beats Sabalenka to win women’s title

Coco Gauff lifted her maiden French Open title on Saturday afternoon and then told reporters that she hoped to be a “reflection of hope and light” for “people that look like me in America”.

Gauff, who also won the US Open in 2023, is the seventh woman of colour to become a major tennis champion. One of the most politically engaged players on the modern tour, she feels a deep responsibility to the African-American community.

“Obviously there’s a lot going on in our country right now,” Gauff said. “I remember after the election, it kind of felt [like a] down period. My mum told me during [November’s WTA Finals in] Riyadh, ‘Just try to win the tournament just to give something for people to smile for’. So that’s what I was thinking about today when holding that [trophy].

“And then seeing the flags in the crowd means a lot. I’m definitely patriotic and proud to be American, and I’m proud to represent the Americans that look like me and people who support the things that I support.”

Now 21, Gauff displayed her commitment to the Black Lives Matter cause five years ago. During a speech at a protest rally, she told her audience that “If you are choosing silence, you are choosing the side of the oppressor.”

Since then, Gauff has become arguably the most articulate and interesting interviewee on the tennis tour – and yet her press conference on Saturday evening may not have been the most interesting of the night.

An hour or so earlier, Gauff’s defeated opponent Aryna Sabalenka had told reporters that Gauff’s 6-7, 6-2, 6-4 victory – which delivered her second major trophy – was some sort of flukey act of God.

Coco Gauff of the US plays a shot against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.Credit: AP

Asked why she had struggled so much in a gusting wind on Court Philippe Chatrier, Sabalenka replied: “Honestly sometimes it felt like she [Gauff] was hitting the ball from the frame … like somebody from above was just staying there laughing, like, ‘Let’s see if you can handle this.’

“It was a joke, for real,” Sabalenka added. “When she would hit the ball, at some point the wind would just, like, let the ball fly like crazy, and you know, I was late every time.”

Warming to her theme, Sabalenka even suggested that she had done Gauff a favour by removing defending champion Iga Swiatek from her path at the semi-final stage. “If Iga would win [against] me another day, I think she would go out today and she would get the win.”

Asked about this last comment, Gauff replied “I don’t agree with that. I’m sitting here [with the trophy]. No shade to Iga or anything, but last time I played her, I won in straight sets. Yeah, I don’t think that’s a fair thing to say, because anything can really happen.”

To give Sabalenka some credit, her comments were at least honest and authentic – and much less boring than the usual platitudes. Yet they do run the risk of riling Gauff, who is the world No.2 and thus a likely opponent in many upcoming events.

Sabalenka was clearly still steaming when she came into the interview room, only half-an-hour or so after the presentation ceremony.

She bemoaned “the worst tennis I’ve played in the last I don’t know how many months,” adding “I think I was overemotional…I think she won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes from…easy balls.”

The statistics bear her out, in that they credited – or rather debited – Sabalenka with a grisly 70 unforced errors. Yet this was still a fun watch, because of the shifting momentum and the contrasting patterns of play. In between the howlers, there were some stylish all-court rallies.

Aryna Sabalenka cries after losing the final.Credit: AP

Sabalenka had started brilliantly, as she took a 4-1 lead that showed off all the extra dimensions she has added to her game.

Many opponents would have been intimidated by such a commanding display, but Gauff is renowned for being the most implacable competitor on the tour.

She worked her way into the contest, using her heavy topspin to loop balls towards Sabalenka’s baseline. It posed an awkward question: should Sabalenka retreat? Or should she gamble by swinging hard at what became deep half-volleys?

There was only ever likely to be one answer, because Sabalenka – the woman who wears the tiger tattoo on her forearm – prides herself on being the queen of the jungle. She went all-or-nothing, and coughed up all those unforced errors.

Gauff’s two major trophies have both been sealed in finals against Sabalenka. Just like at the 2023 US Open, Gauff drove her more powerful opponent to distraction with her court coverage and mental resilience.

– London Telegraph