The 2025 French Open men’s final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner delivered a spectacle that left the tennis world in awe, and former ATP star John Isner is now calling it one of the greatest matches ever played. The five-hour, 29-minute marathon, which saw Alcaraz rally from two sets down to defeat Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2), has etched itself into tennis lore. Initially ranking it among the top five matches of all time, Isner, after reflection, has elevated its status. “I’m changing my tune,” he declared on the *Nothing Major Show*. “I think it’s a top three match of all time.” As Alcaraz and Sinner’s rivalry continues to captivate, their Roland Garros showdown is being celebrated as a defining moment in the sport’s new era.
The match, the longest final in French Open history, was a rollercoaster of drama and brilliance. Sinner, the World No. 1, surged to a two-set lead, showcasing his clinical baseline game and serving prowess. He broke Alcaraz early in the third set and later held three championship points at 5-3, 0-40 in the fourth. Yet, Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spaniard, summoned an otherworldly resolve, saving those match points with fearless shot-making and clawing his way back. “I just believe all the time,” Alcaraz said post-match. “I never have doubt about myself, even though in those match points down.” His resilience culminated in a dominant fifth-set tiebreak, where he unleashed a screaming forehand passing shot to seal his fifth Grand Slam title.
Isner, a former World No. 8 known for his own marathon matches—including the record-breaking 2010 Wimbledon epic against Nicolas Mahut—was struck by the match’s surreal quality. “It felt like a simulation. It felt scripted,” he said, marveling at the improbable swings. “It’s almost too ridiculous to believe what you are watching, that is just more credit to those guys.” His co-host, former player Jack Sock, echoed the sentiment, noting, “When I was watching it, I put in the group chat it honestly felt scripted.” The match’s relentless intensity, with 1,433 groundstrokes, 14 service breaks, and 192 points won by Alcaraz to Sinner’s 193, underscored its place among classics like the 2008 Wimbledon final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
Alcaraz’s victory marked his second straight French Open title and solidified his perfect 5-0 record in Grand Slam finals, a feat shared only with Federer in the Open Era. At 22 years, one month, and three days, he matched Nadal’s age when he won his fifth major, trailing only Bjorn Borg as the youngest man to reach that milestone. Sinner, despite the loss, remained gracious, saying, “First of all, Carlos, congrats. An amazing performance, an amazing battle.” The Italian, who had won the 2024 US Open and 2025 Australian Open, saw his 20-match Grand Slam win streak end but retains a 2,030-point lead atop the ATP rankings.
The match’s historical significance extends beyond its drama. It was the first Grand Slam final between two players born in the 2000s, signaling the dawn of a new era as Novak Djokovic, the last active member of the Big Three, admitted he may have played his final Roland Garros after losing to Sinner in the semifinals. Alcaraz and Sinner, who have split the last six major titles, are redefining tennis with their explosive athleticism and relentless competitiveness. “Every match I’m playing against him is important,” Alcaraz said of Sinner. “Hopefully not the last [final] because every time we face each other, we raise our level to the top.”
Isner’s revised ranking places the match in elite company, likely alongside Nadal-Federer 2008 and Djokovic-Nadal 2012 Australian Open. Tennis luminaries like John McEnroe have also weighed in, claiming Alcaraz and Sinner’s level could challenge peak Nadal on clay. “The tennis level right now is higher than I’ve ever seen,” McEnroe said. As Alcaraz prepares for the Queen’s Club Championships and Sinner regroups for Wimbledon, their rivalry promises more epics. For now, their French Open clash stands as a testament to their greatness, with Isner’s emphatic endorsement cementing its place in tennis immortality.
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