World reacts as Alcaraz, Sinner play ‘greatest tennis match ever’ in French Open final
John McEnroe made an unthinkable statement about Rafael Nadal as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz played a final for the ages.
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Tennis might already be in a new golden era.
Novak Djokovic is still making semi-finals and the memories of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are strong, but the game couldn’t be in better hands as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner begin a rivalry that looks every bit as good as anything we saw from the big three.
For now, Alcaraz has the upper hand.
The Spanish whiz-kid saved three championship points as he produced an astonishing fightback from two sets down to beat Sinner in a final for the ages on Monday morning (AEST).
Reigning champion Alcaraz rallied from the brink of defeat to overcome world number one Sinner 4-6 6-7 (4/7) 6-4 7-6 (7/3) 7-6 (10/2) to clinch his fifth grand slam title after five hours and 29 minutes.
“To put it to words what just happened is really difficult, honestly,” Alcaraz told EuroSport.
“Two sets down against the world number one, with the level that he was playing ... I just put my heart into it and tried to keep going. Never gave up. I was just fighting. Point after point. In the end it was all heart.”
The 22-year-old Spaniard is now unbeaten in five grand slam finals after snapping Sinner’s 20-match winning run at the majors.
Longtime coach Patrick Mouratoglou said it was “without any doubt” the greatest French Open final ever as Alcaraz pulled off his first comeback from two sets down to stun Sinner in the longest Roland Garros decider in history.
It easily eclipsed the 1982 final in Paris when Mats Wilander triumphed in four sets over Guillermo Vilas in 4hr 42min.
But many were asking if that wasn’t going far enough.
“Is this the greatest tennis match ever?” former American pro Mardy Fish asked on X.
Tennis commentator Steve Weissman was convinced: “Greatest. Match. Ever.”
“One of the best 5th sets ever alongside Federer vs Nadal ‘08 Wimbledon + Djok vs Nadal AO 2012,” tweeted Marin Cilic. “Unbelievable level.”
Alcaraz becomes the third youngest man to win five grand slams - after Bjorn Borg and compatriot Rafael Nadal - following an incredible duel between the two stars of a new generation.
Sinner appears to have established an enormous gap between himself and the rest of the tennis world - he just can’t beat Alcaraz.
The Italian fell agonisingly short of a third successive Grand Slam crown after last year’s US Open title and back-to-back Australian Open triumphs.
He suffered his fifth straight loss to Alcaraz in what was their first meeting in a Grand Slam final - and the first championship match at a major between two men born in the 2000s.
Alcaraz leads 8-5 overall having also beaten Sinner to win in Rome, where the Italian returned to competition after a three-month doping ban.
“It’s easier to play than talking now,” said a devastated Sinner post-match. “We tried our best today, we gave everything we had. I won’t sleep very well tonight but it’s OK.”
Alex de Minaur says what everyone is thinking
Aussie Alex de Minaur has joined a long line of tennis stars to share their amazement about what unfolded in the men’s final.
“The level of this whole match was insanity,” de Minaur posted on X.
“What a day to be a fan of this beautiful sport.”
American icon Billie-Jean King called it “an epic match of cinematic proportions”.
Leading tennis journalist Jose Morgado posted: “Oh my god stop it. Still cannot believe what we just watched tbh”.
American great Chris Evert posted”: “Give the trophy to both of them”.
American player-turned-commentator Pam Shriver posted: “When will we see this score line again in a major final?”
The truth is that it will be a ling time before the tennis world gets to watch something this epic.
McEnroe’s outlandish claim
The duo’s level was so high in this tournament US great John McEnroe made an outlandish call involving a certain 14-time Roland Garros winner.
“You would make a serious argument with both guys that they would be favoured to beat Nadal, at his best,” the American said on TNT Sports.
“Do I think they’re gonna reach 20, 24 (grand slams), either one of them? No, because that plateau is so hard.
“But these two guys right now, it’s like when you watch the NBA and you say nobody could be better than Michael Jordan.”
“The tennis level right now is higher than I’ve ever seen,” McEnroe added.
How it all went down
Alcaraz put the pressure on Sinner by carving out three break points to start Sunday night’s final, but the Italian resisted and soon had a chance of his own.
He couldn’t take advantage and found himself having to fend off two more break points at 1-1, producing clutch serves to grind out another tough hold.
Alcaraz’s persistence paid off in the fifth game when he broke to nudge 3-2 ahead, only for the Spaniard to immediately hand the lead back.
The unshakeable Sinner threatened to break again at 4-3, with a brief lapse from Alcaraz eventually enabling Sinner to snatch the first set.
Sinner hit the accelerator to start the second set, surging 3-0 in front. After facing seven break points in the opener, he tightened up considerably on serve.
But Alcaraz brought up his first break point of the second set with Sinner serving for a two-set lead, duly pouncing on the opportunity to check his rival’s momentum.
With the swagger back in his step at a crucial juncture, Alcaraz sought to bring the crowd into the contest but Sinner remained unflustered in the tie-break.
The first five points went with serve before Sinner whipped a forehand down the line and Alcaraz then steered an attempted drop-shot wide.
A tame return into the net presented Sinner with four set points. Alcaraz saved two before Sinner unleashed a blistering cross-court forehand to move to within a set of the trophy.
It all looked to be going his way when he broke Alcaraz to begin the third set, but the Spaniard refused to surrender his title quietly and rattled off four games on the bounce to lead 4-1.
Alcaraz lost serve at 5-3 but promptly broke to love to force a fourth set, lapping up the roars of the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd.
That ended Sinner’s run of 31 consecutive sets won at Grand Slams. Alcaraz saved a break point in the third game amid a series of holds as Sinner doubled down. The Italian appeared to be closing in on victory when he broke at 3-3 as the finish line neared.
But Alcaraz had other ideas as he staved off three championship points at 3-5 and then broke Sinner when he tried to seal the title on his serve.
Successive aces spurred a reinvigorated Alcaraz on in the tie-break and into a decisive fifth set.
A despairing Sinner lost his serve right away and his gloom deepened as Alcaraz saved two break points to pull 3-1 ahead, but incredibly there was another twist.
Alcaraz this time faltered with the title within his grasp as Sinner broke at 3-5 to spark a three-game burst that left the Spaniard needing to hold serve to prolong the final.
He kept his nerve to set up a 10-point tie-break, which Alcaraz ran away with as the outrageous shotmaking continued until the very end when he took his first championship point with a sizzling forehand down the line.
The final points won tally? Sinner 193, Alcaraz 192.
“I’m pretty sure you’ll be champion not once, but many many times. It’s a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament. Making history with you,” Alcaraz said, addressing Sinner after the final.
Extraordinary sportsmanship blows tennis away
Carlos Alcaraz has been widely praised for an act of “top class” during the epic contest.
With Sinner taking the opening set, Alcaraz denied himself a break point opportunity when he forfeited a point to his opponent.
With Sinner serving at 40-40 in the opening game of the second set, his first serve boomed down the “T” only for the linesman to call it wide.
Alcaraz walked over to the mark the ball had left on the clay and then awarded his opponent the point after judging the ball had collected the line.
Alcaraz was given a round of warm applause by the crowd and South African tennis commentator Robbie Koenig called it an “act of top class” during the Stan broadcast.
Alcaraz had earlier in the tournament performed a similar sporting gesture when he forfeited a point during his match against Ben Shelton.
It appeared to the naked eye that Alcaraz had pulled off a miracle volley during his match against Shelton, but he forfeited the point to the American after admitting the racquet had slipped from his hands at the point of contact with the ball.
Karma came back in a big way for Alcaraz.
- with AFP
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