An Unforgettable Roland Garros Final
After five hours and 29 minutes of edge-of-your-seat tennis, Carlos Alcaraz struck a down-the-line forehand winner, collapsed on the clay with his hands over his eyes, then embraced rival Jannik Sinner. Alcaraz prevailed 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) in the first ever French Open final to go to a fifth-set tiebreak. It was the second-longest major final in the Open era and the longest at Roland Garros. Even in defeat, the sinner tennis player left a lasting mark on the crowd.
From Challenger Court to Grand Slam Showdowns
Their rivalry began years ago, when a 15-year-old Alcaraz narrowly beat a 17-year-old Sinner in a Spanish Challenger. On the ATP Tour, they first met at the 2021 Paris Masters (7-6 (1), 7-5 to Alcaraz), then at Wimbledon later that summer, where Sinner won in four sets. Their quarterfinal at the 2022 US Open became legend: a 5-hour, 15-minute epic ending 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-7 (0), 7-5, 6-3 for Alcaraz just before 3 a.m.
- Sinner’s strengths: clinical groundstrokes, strategic play
- Alcaraz’s flair: athleticism, crowd-pleasing shotmaking
As ESPN’s Chris Fowler called it, an “instant classic,” the match cemented their status as the sport’s next great rivalry.
The New Era of Men’s Tennis
For two decades, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic dominated. Now, Alcaraz (22) and Sinner (23) have taken over, winning the past six majors between them. Sinner opened 2025 by defending his Australian Open crown; Alcaraz won two Masters 1000 clay titles and the Rotterdam 500 before Roland Garros.
“I’ve been doing this for 30 years,” said John McEnroe, “and that final was one of the all-timers.” Even Djokovic, who reached the semis, praised the pair: “Their rivalry is something our sport needs.”
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How the Final Unfolded
Sinner, world No. 1, stunned fans by dominating early, taking the first two sets and threatening a fourth Slam title. Alcaraz, a legend already, refused to yield—saving three championship points at 5-3 in the fourth. Both players showed no sign of fatigue, trading highlight-reel rallies deep into the night. In the fifth-set tiebreak, Alcaraz sprinted to a 7-0 lead and closed it out.
- First two sets: Sinner in control
- Fourth set: Alcaraz fended off three championship points
- Deciding tiebreak: Alcaraz dominant, 10-2
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What Comes Next for the Big Two
Alcaraz now boasts five majors; Sinner has three. Their on-court battles push each other higher—“every match…we raise our level to the top,” said Alcaraz. Sinner agreed: “He pushes me to the limit…this could be one of the greatest rivalries, but time will tell.”
With French Open 2025 behind them, fans can’t wait for Roland Garros final rematches and future showdowns on every surface. The age of the “Big Two” is official—and the tennis world is richer for it.
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