Tennis fans all over the world are catching their breath after a French Open final for the ages between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Roland Garros quite literally couldn’t catch their breath, as the world’s top two players on the ATP Tour served up a classic.
It was Alcaraz who somehow came through the match to win a second successive Grand Slam title and deny Sinner a maiden Roland Garros crown in the process.
Alcaraz faced three Championship points against Sinner and on another day, he might have won this one in four sets, but found something to prolong the game and take it in a tie-breaker in the fifth set.
John McEnroe states where French Open final ranks
Naturally, after a match that lasted well over five hours and went all the way to a 10-point tie-break in the fifth, talk will turn towards where the final ranks in terms of tennis history.
Some have stopped short of calling it the best in history, but when it comes to the French Open, perhaps Roland Garros hasn’t seen a better final match from the men than this one.
McEnroe can’t think of a better final than this one and he believes that this one goes down in the record books as the greatest ever at this tournament.
He said on TNT Sports: “With all due respect to Jim (Courier), who won this twice, I can’t think of a better Roland Garros final than what we just witnessed.
“And after all the talk over the course of the last couple of years, where is tennis going to go from here? ‘Cause we’re losing Federer, we lost Nadal and Djokovic, what’s going to happen…
“It seems like we’re in pretty good hands with these two guys.
“So many things happened. We always talk about the French Open being a roller coaster, but, I mean, in two sets, a break early in the third, you’re like, okay, it’s like, it’s gonna be Sinner’s day. He’s gonna win in three.
“He doesn’t capitalise. He goes through a fourth-set. You’re thinking, “Okay, he hasn’t played a four-five set match since Australia and he didn’t play too many long ones there, either. 5-3, 40 love on 3- 5 love 40 on serve, you’re like, okay, you know, this is reality is set in. Somehow. I mean, he tightens up a little bit, but nonetheless, he forces it.”
Patrick Mouratoglou makes French Open final claim
The coach of Naomi Osaka has also had his say on whether he believes this is the greatest final ever witnessed on this stage.
It’s fair to say that he does, and it’s quite exciting to see what could be achieved by these two players as their careers go to another level.
Mouratoglou said on X: “Without any doubt, best Roland Garros final in the history.”
All eyes will now be on Wimbledon when these two players compete for another Grand Slam title at the All England Club.
Alcaraz has tasted success at the last two events, and after beating Sinner at the French Open, he will fancy his chances of a third successive crown.
First, the two players have a few weeks to take stock of the match they’ve just taken part in and when the dust settles, Sinner will still be proud of the way he played.
This final does feel like one that will be spoken about for a long time and it’s hard to remember another final that proved quite so enthralling at the French Open.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
