Watch| French Open: Alcaraz Stages Comeback to Defeat Sinner and Secure Fifth Grand Slam Title

Facing the grim reality of trailing three championship points against the world’s top-ranked player, Carlos Alcaraz took a deep, steadying breath at the baseline of Court Philippe-Chatrier. For most tennis players in history, such a situation would signal inevitable defeat.

But Alcaraz has demonstrated time and again that he's not like anyone else before him, both in how he plays the game and his unshakeable self-confidence. Defying odds, he staged one of the greatest comebacks in tennis history. In an unprecedented five-hour-and-29-minute duel, he dethroned world No. 1 Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) to win his second consecutive French Open title.

Even prior to this career-defining victory, Alcaraz was known for his ability to perform under pressure. He saved a match point from Sinner in the 2022 US Open quarter-final at 3 a.m., going on to win his first Grand Slam title. He won an instant classic against Novak Djokovic in the 2023 Wimbledon final in five sets. But nothing could compare to the intensity and drama of this latest encounter.

At only 22 years old, Alcaraz is the third-youngest male tennis player to win five Grand Slams, following in the footsteps of legends Björn Borg and Rafael Nadal. He is also just the eighth man in the Open Era to successfully defend a Roland Garros championship. This triumph completed an incredible clay-season run, with a flawless 19-0 record at the bigs, including Masters 1000 titles in Monte Carlo and Rome—accomplishments cemented during the longest French Open final in the Open Era.

Decades of hype have been building up the Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry, and this final was their highly anticipated first Grand Slam meeting, affirming them as the new leaders of men's tennis in a new era.

Ahead of the final, Sinner was the tournament's standout performer, overrunning his rivals to reach the semifinals and then taking out 24-time Grand Slam title winner Novak Djokovic in three grueling sets. On 47-2 overall since August against top-ranked players, Sinner's only two defeats were against Alcaraz.

Sinner quickly gained the upper hand in Paris, running to a two-set advantage. Nevertheless, Alcaraz was not about to give up. During the third set, he rallied the crowd's emotion, fighting back a break and racing to 5-2 ahead. With precision and power, he closed the set 6-4, basking in the crowd's applause with a victorious cup of his ears.

Sinner picked up the pace in the fourth set, storming to 5-3 ahead and securing triple championship point on Alcaraz's service. A point away from losing his crown, with the supporters solidly behind him, Alcaraz called upon sheer concentration. He repelled all three match points, clinching the game on a fearsome forehand winner. Then, taking advantage of a wobbly Sinner serve and movement, he stormed from 3-5, 0-40 behind to 6-5, fist-pumping in protest.

Even when Sinner forced a tiebreak, Alcaraz was relentless. He served solidly and released his forehand whenever possible. The crowd's energy increased as the tiebreak wore on and Sinner's calm and energy levels dropped. Alcaraz took the match into a deciding fifth set.

Returning from a three-month doping ban, Sinner's physical condition was in doubt throughout. His energy visibly waned in the fifth set, losing serve straightaway, but he continued to fight. Sinner forced Alcaraz to work for every point, breaking back to take it to 5-5 when Alcaraz seemed set to serve out the championship.

In the gripping final minutes, the two men banged away with abandon, leaving it all on the court. Ahead 6-5, Sinner pressed Alcaraz in a gripping game of deuce and was just two points away from winning again. But Alcaraz held his ground, delivering an incredible backhand passing shot to maintain service. He went on to run away with the championship tiebreaker, closing out an electrifying win that solidifies his reputation as one of the brightest and best of tennis's young stars.