Prince of Clay arrives as Carlos Alcaraz battles from the brink to retain French Open

Carlos Alcaraz celebrates with the Coupe des Mousquetaires and ball kids after winning his match against Jannik Sinner at the French Open. PHOTO: EPA-EFE

Prince of Clay arrives as Carlos Alcaraz battles from the brink to retain French Open

PARIS - Carlos Alcaraz battled from the brink to outlast top seed Jannik Sinner 4-6 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(10-2) in a French Open final for the ages on June 8 to retain his crown and cement his status as the Prince of Clay in Roland Garros’ post-Rafa Nadal era.

In a scintillating showdown between the torch-bearers of a new generation, the 22-year-old Alcaraz saved three match points in the fourth set to continue his dominance over Sinner with his fifth straight victory and end the Italian’s 20-match winning run at the majors.

Alcaraz showed his steely determination to win the epic in five hours and 29 minutes - the longest final at Roland Garros - and soaked up the roaring ovation from a thoroughly entertained Parisian crowd long used to Nadal’s reign during his run of 14 titles.

“I want to start with Jannik. It’s amazing the level you have,” said Alcaraz, only the second man since tennis turned professional in 1968 to win all of his first five Grand Slam singles finals after Swiss great Roger Federer.

“Congratulations for an amazing two weeks ... I’m pretty sure you’re going to be champion not once, but many times. It’s a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament, making history with you.”

“I’m just really happy to be able to make history with you in this tournament.”

The duo, who have captured seven out of the last eight Grand Slams to stamp their authority on the men’s tour, were locked in a fierce battle full of dramatic momentum shifts in the first major final between two men born in the 2000s.

June 8’s five-hour-plus fiesta was the second-longest Grand Slam final in the Open Era and marked only the third time since 1968 that a player saved a match point en route to victory in a Grand Slam final. Alcaraz matched Argentine Gaston Gaudio’s 2004 French Open feat and Serbian Novak Djokovic’s Wimbledon comeback in 2019.

Playing his first slam after serving a three-month ban following a doping case, Sinner held serve in a tense five-deuce opening game lasting 12 minutes.

However, he was broken in the fifth game when he fired a forehand wide, before hitting back from 2-3 and going on to snatch an intense first set following an unforced error by Alcaraz.

On the ropes

Relentless pressure from the baseline allowed Sinner to go a break up early in the second set and the top seed began to apply the squeeze on Alcaraz, who was on the ropes trailing 1-4 on a sunbathed Court Philippe Chatrier.

An aggressive Alcaraz came out fighting and drew loud cheers when he drew level after 10 games and then forced a tiebreak but Sinner edged ahead with a blistering forehand winner and doubled his lead after the clock ticked past two hours.

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after winning the men’s singles final against Italy’s Jannik Sinner. PHOTO: REUTERS

Alcaraz, who had never come back from two sets down, battled hard in the hope of avoiding his first loss in a major final and pulled a set back before saving three match points at 3-5 down in the fourth set, later restoring parity via the tiebreak.

He traded breaks in the decider but prevailed in the super tiebreak to become the third different man to win back-to-back Roland Garros titles this century after Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, while Sinner was left to digest how he let a golden opportunity to add to his US and Australian Open wins slip through his fingers.

Alcaraz fell to the ground before Sinner went over to his side of the court to congratulate him and the Spaniard then ran to the stands to hug his team and celebrate.

“CARLOS II, PRINCE OF CLAY,” the French Open posted on X.

Sinner had a contemplative look, sitting on his bench as his great rival rejoiced, and was gracious in defeat.

“Carlos, congratulations on an amazing performance and an amazing battle,” he said.

“We tried our best today, gave everything ... an amazing tournament even though it is very difficult right now. It’s a big privilege for me to play here ... I won’t sleep very well tonight but it’s okay.” REUTERS

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