In a game like the journey on a gigantic ship swing, Carlos Alcaraz defended his Grand Slam title at the French Open against Jannik Sinner. The Spaniard defeated the Spaniard 4: 6, 6: 7 (4: 7), 6: 4, 7: 6 (7: 3) and 7: 6 (10: 2) on Sunday in a finale of the French Open. After the success at the ATP tournament in Rome, it is the second final victory Alcaraz ‘against number one in the world rankings in a row. It was by far the longest French open final of all time.
The South Tyrolean Sinner got number one after more than an hour. The second took nine minutes longer and went back to Sinner. But Alcaraz took momentum and secured the third set. The game was then short of the decision with three match balls for the Italian in the fourth set. But the young Spaniard won the fourth set. Only the match-tie break in the fifth set brought the decision in favor of Alcaraz.
Top -class from the first surcharge
The first round quickly developed into an incredible struggle for wear. The first service game felt like it was forever, only after twelve minutes had Sinner ward off several break balls of the Spaniard and put it 1-0.
At the score of 2-2, Sinner used his first break chance, but Alcaraz immediately countered and buttoned off the opponent. At 4: 5, the 22 -year -old Spaniard had to be treated in the eye – and quickly broken Sinner Alcaraz to win the set.
Sinner extremely constant
In the first half of the set, both players made a whole series of reckless errors, Sinner stabilized faster – and hung Alcaraz. This continued at the beginning of the second set, and the 23 -year -old Italian quickly led 3-0. But Alcaraz now showed his qualities.
With a light tactic changeover – Alcaraz has now played his top spins a little higher and thus deeper into the field – and with a mentally strong combative attitude, the Spaniard worked back into the game.
Spectators make Alcaraz strong
The spectators on the Court Philippe-Chatrier felt that the pendulum now flashed out much more towards Alcaraz and fired it more and more. The fans like the final victory cheered his game winnings, and “Carlito” celebrated with a raised fist when he opened to 5: 5.
But Sinner, the poker face of the tennis scene par excellence, showed no emotional reactions, but his almost fabulous clarity. In unimpressed, he continued to play at a high level and used the momentum. He won the second set 7: 4 in the Tiebreak. It was Sinner’s first set loss in the entire tournament.
Roller coaster ride Keep going
But Alcaraz did not give up. Although he immediately left his serve after losing the sentence, it broke back twice and finally opened the set win. The stadium in Paris has now celebrated both players, who not only fought back into the game again and again, but also both began to dose their strength inserts.
Both players demonstrated their supremacy in tennis in countless moments and showed alternating world-class and extra-class tennis. Alcaraz impressed with brave attack strokes and variable game, when it comes to running work, the significantly larger siner was in no way inferior than excellent skiers. With almost permanently bent knees, the Italian pushed himself across the square at lightning speed and produced significantly less “unforced errors”. Not a single double error on the surcharge undertook the Primus until the middle of the fourth set.
Decision postponed
Sinner dominated the game from the middle of the fourth set. The Italian showed no nerves, he continued to play with incredible consistency. In the event of his own service, Carlos Alcaraz defended three match balls against himself, delighted spectators and brought his impact with five points in a row.
And none of the players still gave themselves a nakedness. Sinner did not get anything to the finish line at 5: 4 two butterfly balls, then took the point behind the net with a soulful stop. But the decision should still not be made. Because Alcaraz served to zero and took over the set lead to 6: 5 after four hours of play. And Alcaraz even marched through to the 7: 6 set win.
Alcaraz runs and runs and runs
The Spaniard had never won a match after a two-set deficit. And at the beginning of the fifth sentence, he left no doubt that he wanted to end this series. He breaks Sinner and defended opportunities for the rebreak. But one thing always stayed the same in the game: if it looked as if Jannik Sinner had the upper hand, Alcatraz came back.
Sinner tried everything, continued to make a few mistakes, but Alcaraz was the most difficult balls even after more than four and a half hours of play. The fans in Paris caught the breath when Alcaraz slipped on a volleystop and slided along the red ash with the whipped hand. Fortunately, the man from El Palmar could continue playing without prejudice.
Previous record marks
The game that had long since become a nerve thriller went into the decisive phase. The previous record brand of 4 hours 42 minutes of the longest finals of the French Open had long since fallen when Alcaraz served as a match win, but Sinner kept the game completely open with a break. The euphoric fans alternately cheered on the two players, who both turned to the audience with ball wines.
Even far after the five-hour mark, both athletes continued to show their exceptional skills. Impossible balls were still played back, the spectators jumped from their seats and donated after many rallies.
Match-tie break Brings the decision
In the so-called match-tie break, Alcaraz took the lead with mini-breaks 5-0. And Alcaraz kept going. At 7-0, Sinner got two points, but then Alcaraz made the victory perfect. A truly epic and historical finale was over.
Sinner and Alcaraz too: big sports men
Remarkable: Both players not only played tennis at the very highest level, but also proved to be great sports men: in critical situations, both overlaped the lines on their opponents and thus attracted the point gain of the opponent. Role models par excellence.