On June 8, 2025, Carlos Alcaraz cemented his legacy as a tennis titan, clawing back from two sets down to defeat World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in a historic French Open final on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The 5-hour, 29-minute marathon, the longest in Roland Garros history, ended with Alcaraz’s 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) victory, securing his second consecutive French Open title and fifth Grand Slam overall. Facing three championship points in the fourth set, the 22-year-old Spaniard drew inspiration from his grandfather’s timeless mantra—cabeza, corazón, cojones (head, heart, balls)—to fuel a comeback for the ages. “My grandfather, I’m pretty sure he was watching from home. I hope he is proud of my performance,” Alcaraz said, crediting the family wisdom that guided him through the crucible of this epic battle.
The final was a clash of tennis’s new guard, pitting Alcaraz, the No. 2 seed, against Sinner, a 23-year-old Italian fresh off a three-month doping ban. Sinner dominated early, breaking Alcaraz twice in the first set to take it 6-4 and edging a tight second-set tiebreak. “I didn’t know what I did to win the match, three match points down,” Alcaraz admitted, reflecting on the dire moment at 5-3, 0-40 in the fourth set. Yet, summoning his grandfather’s advice to stay mentally sharp, emotionally invested, and fearless, Alcaraz saved all three points with a mix of sizzling forehands and deft drop shots. “I tried not to think about anything else, just to go point after point with a positive mind, with everything I had inside,” he said, his words echoing the “cabeza” and “corazón” of his grandfather’s credo.
Alcaraz’s resilience turned the tide. He broke Sinner’s serve to force a fourth-set tiebreak, which he won 7-3, leveling the match. The fifth set was a rollercoaster, with Alcaraz failing to close it out at 5-4, only for Sinner to falter in the final tiebreak. Alcaraz’s “cojones” shone through as he unleashed a jaw-dropping forehand passing shot on the run to seal the 10-2 tiebreak, collapsing onto the clay in triumph. “It was very difficult in some moments but I’m proud and very happy about how I dealt with everything today,” he said, his smile radiating relief and joy. The crowd roared, with one fan tweeting, “CARLOS II, PRINCE OF CLAY,” capturing the sentiment of a new era post-Rafael Nadal.
This victory marked Alcaraz’s first career comeback from two sets down, a feat not seen in a French Open final since Manolo Santana in 1961. His 13-1 record in five-set matches and 8-4 head-to-head edge over Sinner underscore his clutch prowess. “I know that when I’m playing a fifth set, you have to give everything and you have to give your heart,” Alcaraz said, embodying the fighting spirit his grandfather instilled. His 70 winners, including a tournament-high number of drop shots, overwhelmed Sinner, who fell to 0-7 in matches exceeding four hours. “First of all, Carlos, congrats. An amazing performance, an amazing battle,” Sinner said graciously, acknowledging the mutual respect in their rivalry.
Alcaraz’s connection to his family runs deep. Raised in El Palmar, Spain, where his grandfather Carlos built clay courts at a local club, Alcaraz was steeped in tennis from age four. His father, a former player, and brother Álvaro, his hitting partner, have been constants in his rise. “I always remember what my grandpa says to me. That is three Cs – cabeza, corazón, cojones,” Alcaraz said in 2022, a mantra that has guided him through high-stakes moments like his 2022 US Open win and now this French Open epic. At 22 years and 34 days, he’s the third-youngest man to win five majors, trailing only Bjorn Borg and Nadal, whose 14 Roland Garros titles Alcaraz aspires to approach. “When I was feeling worse, I had no more strength, I tried to think about Rafa,” he added, citing Nadal’s fighting spirit as another inspiration.
As Alcaraz hoisted the Coupe des Mousquetaires, presented by Andre Agassi, he thanked his Murcia supporters and the Paris crowd. “Paris, you have been important support for me since the first practice in the first round,” he said. With a 29-2 clay record since 2024 and titles in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome, Alcaraz is the new King of Clay, a title earned through heart, guts, and an unbreakable will passed down from his grandfather.
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