In the sweltering heat of Paris, on the red clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier, Carlos Alcaraz etched his name deeper into tennis history with a breathtaking comeback against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the 2025 French Open men’s final. The five-hour, 29-minute marathon, the longest final in Roland Garros history, saw the 22-year-old Spaniard rally from two sets down and save three championship points to clinch a 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2) victory. Yet, in a stunning revelation, Alcaraz’s coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, admitted he harbored doubts about his protégé’s ability to pull off this monumental feat, even as the young star refused to surrender.
The match was a clash of titans, pitting two of the sport’s brightest stars against each other in their first Grand Slam final showdown. Alcaraz, the defending champion, faced a formidable Sinner, who had stormed through the tournament without dropping a set until the final. The Italian’s relentless precision and machine-like consistency had earned him a two-set lead, and by the fourth set, with Sinner leading 5-3 and Alcaraz serving at 0-40, the end seemed imminent. “I’m not going to say that I was believing that he was able to recover from that 5-3, Love-40,” Ferrero confessed in a post-match press conference. “But one more time with Carlos, everything is possible, and he did it again. Amazing achievement.”
Alcaraz’s resilience shone through in that critical moment. Facing triple championship point, he locked eyes with Ferrero, gripping his racket and signaling, “I’m still here.” He then unleashed a barrage of disciplined shots, erasing the match points with a searing forehand winner that ignited the 15,000-strong crowd. “He was 0-40 in the fourth, 5-3, and he still makes like this with the racket, still saying ‘Vamos,’” Ferrero recalled, marveling at his pupil’s unyielding spirit. Alcaraz broke Sinner’s serve in the next game, forced a tiebreak, and surged into a fifth set, where he dominated the final tiebreak with a 7-0 run, sealing the victory with a blistering forehand down the line.
This triumph marked Alcaraz’s fifth Grand Slam title and preserved his perfect 5-0 record in major finals, making him the third-youngest man to reach five majors, behind only Rafael Nadal and Bjorn Borg. It was also a historic comeback, as Alcaraz became the first man since Novak Djokovic in 2019 to win a Grand Slam after saving match points. “This one was the most exciting matches that I’ve played so far, without a doubt,” Alcaraz said in his press conference. “The match had everything, really good moments, really bad moments. I’m just really, really happy. I’m proud about how I dealt with everything today.”
The rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner, now tilted 8-4 in Alcaraz’s favor, has drawn comparisons to the legendary battles of Nadal, Djokovic, and Roger Federer. Ferrero, a former world No. 1 and 2003 French Open champion, praised the duo’s impact on the sport. “For the sport, it’s something amazing to have these players after maybe Roger, Rafa, and Novak,” he said. “Having these two guys fighting for big trophies, I think we have to be very happy about it in the sport of tennis.” The match’s intensity, with its frenetic rallies and dramatic swings, left fans and analysts in awe, with tennis legend Mats Wilander declaring, “Federer and Nadal played a couple of good finals, but nothing comes close to this.”
For Alcaraz, the victory was a testament to his mental fortitude and physical endurance, honed under Ferrero’s guidance since he was 16. Despite early struggles with Sinner’s serve and his own unforced errors, Alcaraz adapted, breaking Sinner seven times and capitalizing on the Italian’s fading energy in the fifth set. “I tried not to think about anything else, just to go point after point with a positive mind, with everything I had inside,” Alcaraz said, reflecting on his mindset. His ability to thrive under pressure, even when the odds seemed insurmountable, underscored why he’s considered a generational talent.
As Alcaraz celebrated, sprinting into the stands to embrace Ferrero and his family, the victory carried extra significance for his team. It marked the first Grand Slam title for Samuel Lopez, a recent addition to Alcaraz’s coaching staff. “I’m really happy, especially for Samu, his first Grand Slam as a coach,” Alcaraz said, grinning. For Ferrero, the win was a reminder of Alcaraz’s limitless potential, even if he momentarily doubted the comeback. “His strength is to keep believing all the time until the last ball is gone,” Ferrero said, his pride evident.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz’s focus shifts to Wimbledon, where he’ll defend his 2024 title. With Sinner hot on his heels and the tennis world buzzing about their rivalry, the stage is set for more epic battles. For now, Alcaraz’s French Open heroics stand as a defining moment, proving that even when his coach doubted, his heart and racket spoke louder.
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