Carlos Alcaraz Stuns Jannik Sinner in Epic French Open Final to Defend Title

In a record-breaking five-set thriller, Carlos Alcaraz comes back from two sets down to beat world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and retain his French Open crown

Paris [France], June 9: In a French Open final for the ages, Carlos Alcaraz etched his name deeper into tennis history by pulling off an electrifying five-set comeback to defeat world number one Jannik Sinner, successfully defending his title on Sunday at Court Philippe-Chatrier. The match, filled with momentum swings and relentless intensity, marked the longest final in Roland Garros history and the first-ever French Open final to be decided by a fifth-set tie-break.

Alcaraz triumphed with a scoreline of 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2), after being down two sets and trailing 3-5 in the final set. The Spanish phenom summoned his trademark grit and fearless shot-making to claw back into the match, eventually overpowering the top-seeded Italian in the tie-break.

As the ATP highlighted, this was the first Grand Slam final contested between two players born in the 2000s, and it lived up to every bit of the pre-match hype. The match saw spectacular rallies, mental fortitude, and championship-caliber tennis from both ends of the court.

After sealing the win, Alcaraz collapsed in exhaustion and disbelief, embracing Sinner at the net. The 22-year-old Spaniard improved his already stellar record in deciding sets to 13-1, while Sinner’s struggles in long matches persisted—his five-set record now stands at 6-10, with no wins in matches lasting over 3 hours and 50 minutes (0-7).

This victory marks Alcaraz’s fifth Grand Slam title, making him the third-youngest man to achieve that milestone, behind only Björn Borg (21) and Rafael Nadal (22). It’s also his 20th career tour-level title, and his 37th match win of the season, solidifying his dominance in 2025.

Alcaraz entered Roland Garros in sublime form, having already clinched titles in Monte Carlo and Rome, and he becomes the first player born in the 2000s to win 20 tour-level titles. His win also improves his head-to-head record against Sinner to 8-4, including victories in their last five encounters.

Sinner, meanwhile, was gunning for his second Slam of the year following his Australian Open triumph and was eyeing a historic hat trick of major wins. A win in Paris would have made him only the fifth man in the Open Era to claim three consecutive Grand Slam titles. Despite the heartbreak, Sinner retains his ATP No. 1 ranking with a 2,030-point lead.

Pauline Paris and fans at Philippe-Chatrier witnessed not just a tennis match, but a monumental duel that tested endurance, willpower, and belief—elements that define legends. And on this day, it was Alcaraz who walked away with his name etched deeper into the clay of history.