The 2025 French Open men’s final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner was a spectacle that captivated the tennis world, and American star Ben Shelton was no exception. Despite his own exit from the tournament in the fourth round at the hands of Alcaraz, the 22-year-old found himself glued to the television for the thrilling conclusion of the longest French Open final in history, a five-hour, 29-minute marathon that saw Alcaraz defend his title in a dramatic five-set comeback. Shelton, typically not one to linger on tennis after his own elimination, broke his own rule to witness what he described as one of the most unforgettable moments in the sport.
Shelton’s journey at Roland Garros ended with a hard-fought four-set loss to Alcaraz, a match that showcased the Spaniard’s relentless energy and clutch performance. Reflecting on his own experience, Shelton admitted that facing players like Alcaraz and Sinner requires a different approach. “I’m not really a guy who just rallies on the baseline. So it’s a whole different matchup when playing both of them,” he said. He highlighted their ability to shine in critical moments, noting, “They play the clutch points, the big points really well and make you earn it.” For Shelton, these encounters, though resulting in defeats, were valuable learning opportunities as he continues to hone his craft against the world’s elite.
What compelled Shelton to tune into the final was the sheer intensity of the Alcaraz-Sinner clash. The match, which ended with Alcaraz’s 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2) victory, was a rollercoaster of momentum swings. Sinner, the world No. 1, dominated early, taking the first two sets and later holding three championship points in the fourth. But Alcaraz, known for his resilience, staged a comeback for the ages, saving those match points and unleashing a barrage of winners in the decisive fifth-set tiebreak. Shelton pinpointed this tiebreak as the standout moment, describing it as “some of the most clutch tennis I’ve seen at 6-all in the 5th in my life.” He recalled turning on the match at 6-5 in the fifth set, expecting a quick check-in, only to be drawn in by the relentless baseline battles where “the serve was a non-factor, they were putting the serve in the box and going to war.”
The final’s intensity wasn’t lost on the tennis community. Former champion Jim Courier called it “a gift,” emphasizing the high level of play that left fans and analysts in awe. The match drew 5.5 million viewers on French television, peaking at 9.5 million during the climactic moments, rivaling the viewership of the 2011 Federer-Nadal final. Shelton’s admiration echoed the sentiments of many, including Boris Becker, who compared the Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry to the legendary battles of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic. “That will happen again, maybe Jannik will be the luckier one next time,” Becker remarked, hinting at the potential for this rivalry to define the sport for years to come.
For Shelton, watching Alcaraz and Sinner push each other to their physical and mental limits was a reminder of the evolving landscape of men’s tennis. The match wasn’t just a display of athletic prowess but a testament to the mental fortitude required to compete at the highest level. As Alcaraz collapsed onto the clay after his final forehand winner, Shelton saw a moment that encapsulated why he, too, strives to compete against such formidable opponents. “Every point, it was crazy,” he said, marveling at the intensity. This epic final not only crowned Alcaraz as a five-time Grand Slam champion at age 22 but also solidified his and Sinner’s roles as the torchbearers of tennis’s new era, with Shelton eager to learn and challenge them in the future.
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