Carlos Alcaraz produced one of the greatest tennis comebacks of all time to win the French Open.
The 22-year-old was staring down the barrel of defeat against Jannik Sinner, who held three championship points in the fourth set.
But the Spaniard clawed his way back from the brink of defeat to defend his title in five enthralling sets and become a five-time Grand Slam champion.
Former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski was thoroughly entertained by Alcaraz and Sinner’s latest duel and he is excited for what’s to come in their rivalry.
Greg Rusedski praised Carlos Alcaraz for doing something at the French Open no other player would do
Carlos Alcaraz needed all the shots in his large repertoire to pull off the great escape at the French Open.
It took five hours and 29 minutes to complete a remarkable turnaround as Alcaraz defeated his biggest rival at the French Open for the second successive year.
It is a match that will be talked about for years to come and it is further cemented on the minds of fans that the Alcaraz and Sinner rivalry is well and truly underway and it is here to stay.
Looking back on the match, Greg Rusedski spotted something that he thinks no other player would do in a match, especially in a Grand Slam final.
“It is incredible to think what he has accomplished so young,” the former British number one told the Inside-In podcast. “His synergy with Rafa, winning his fifth major a day apart aged 22 and 233 days. I mean it’s just outstanding. The only guy who has won more slams without a loss in the men’s game is Federer, 7-0.
“He is second at 5-0 something that Rafa did not even accomplish and if you look at it there were some half volleys that he made under big situations that no other player makes. It is like the pressure gets higher and the more relaxed he becomes. A lot of us players wish we had that talent.
“You look at Sinner, he blinked on the match points. There was no blink whatsoever from Alcaraz. These guys are special because the fight does not stop, but also to be able to be relaxed enough to execute those shots under pressure.”
Greg Rusedski talks about Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s rivalry
Many wondered when the next epic tennis rivalry would begin following the greatness of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
It came sooner than many thought as Alcaraz and Sinner have now contested 12 matches against each other, with the best taking place at the French Open this past Sunday.
Rusedski believes this rivalry came at an important time for men’s tennis and he believes the pair will maintain the standard that was set before them and will continue to separate themselves from their fellow players.
“I look at Sinner and Alcaraz and I say okay Sinner is the favourite on all the hard court events, even though Alcaraz beat him at the US Open in that epic match,” Djokovic said. “You look at the clay and grass and go for Alcaraz.
“This is exactly what men’s tennis needed a big rivalry after the big three and we have got it. Sinner has finally lost his first major final and Alcaraz has distanced himself by two.
“I think we are going to see these guys in many, many majors to come. It is going to be the new rivalry. It was Federer and Nadal, then it was Nadal and Djokovic and the new one is Sinner and Alcaraz, they are just separating themselves from the pack.”
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