Carlos Alcaraz staged a monumental comeback, saving three championship points to defeat world number one Jannik Sinner in a gripping Roland Garros final. In the longest men’s singles final in French Open history, the defending champion triumphed 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) after an epic five hours and 29 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

The Great Escape

The match reached its dramatic peak in the fourth set. Trailing 3-5, Alcaraz found himself down 0/40 on his own serve, facing three championship points for Sinner. With defeat just one point away, the 22-year-old Spaniard displayed incredible resilience. He saved all three points, held his serve for 4-5, and then broke Sinner to level the set at 5-5, sending the crowd into a frenzy Alcaraz went on to clinch the fourth-set tie-break to force a decider.

How the Match Unfolded

The final was a roller-coaster of momentum shifts.

• Sinner’s Strong Start: Jannik Sinner began in commanding fashion, taking the first set 6-4 after 63 grueling minutes. The Italian continued his dominance, securing the second set in a tie-break to build a formidable two-set lead.

• Alcaraz’s Fightback: Facing a significant deficit, Alcaraz began his climb back, winning the third set 6-4 to stay alive in the contest.

• Decisive Moments: After his stunning fourth-set escape, the final went to a deciding fifth set. The set remained on a knife’s edge until the ultimate tie-break, which Alcaraz dominated 10-2 to complete his historic victory.

A Final for the History Books

The epic contest set several records and marked a significant moment for men’s tennis.

• A New Generation: It was the first French Open final between two players born in the 2000s, showcasing the new era of the sport.

• Alcaraz’s Milestones: For Alcaraz, it was his fifth Grand Slam title. It was also the first time in his career that he had won a match after being two sets down.

• Saving a Championship Point: He became the first man to win a Grand Slam final after saving a match point since Novak Djokovic accomplished the feat against Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2019.

This final was the first major championship clash between the world’s top two ranked players, cementing the Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry as the most compelling in tennis today. While Sinner was vying for his third consecutive major title, Alcaraz’s unbelievable comeback ensured he would defend his Paris crown and etch his name into Roland Garros lore