Despite his son’s appearance in the longest French Open final in history, Jannik Sinner’s father stayed back in Italy to fulfill his duties as a mountain chef
PARIS, June 9 – While the world watched Jannik Sinner battle Carlos Alcaraz in the longest French Open final of the Open Era, one notable figure was absent from the stands: Sinner’s father. The world number one revealed in a post-match press conference that his father missed the historic showdown because he was at work.
The gripping final on Sunday at Roland Garros lasted five hours and 29 minutes, cementing its place in history as the longest French Open final since professional tennis began in 1968, and the second-longest Grand Slam final ever played.
“My dad was not here because he was working today,” said the 22-year-old Italian, who hails from the German-speaking Alpine region of northern Italy. “Nothing of our success changes in the family,” he added with a smile, underlining his family’s grounded approach to fame and victory.
Sinner’s father works as a chef in the mountains and, despite the momentous occasion, remained at his job. “It’s okay,” Sinner said. “I guess my dad, he was watching on TV—if he finished work.”
While his father couldn’t be physically present, Sinner did not lack emotional support. His player’s box was filled with his coaching team and his mother, who was visibly moved throughout the roller-coaster match. Cameras caught her nervously reacting as her son squandered three match points in the fourth set—up 5-3, 40-0—allowing Alcaraz to stage an extraordinary comeback.
Sinner, the top seed, also held a 6-5 lead in the deciding fifth set, but Alcaraz clawed back yet again, eventually winning the tiebreaker and defending his French Open crown in dramatic fashion.
While it wasn’t the fairytale ending Sinner might have hoped for, the match showcased his grit, skill, and composure under pressure. And even though one parent watched from afar, the sense of familial pride clearly remained strong on and off the court.