Carlos Alcaraz wins one of the best Grand Slam finals in history against Jannik Sinner. The five and a half hours in Paris have shown that Alcaraz and Sinner are a bit ahead of their competitors.
This final was already over, wasn’t it? Three hours and forty -three minutes were played. Jannik Sinner had developed three match balls against Carlos Alcaraz in the fourth set at 5: 3. It was intensively received here until this Sunday afternoon, often even high -class. What was more about a first Grand Slam final between the two players who have made the magnificent presence of tennis in the past year and a half of a promise for the future?
Already at this point in time, shortly before 7 p.m., this match was one of the better of the younger present. But it took another 106 minutes for a winner to be found and until a remarkable finale had become one for the tennis history books, one of which will be talked about in years. Only then did Alcaraz fell into the red sand – exhausted, happy, the new king of Paris.
At the zenith of their skills
But Jannik Sinner also contributed to these five and a half hours of spectacle. Because what the 15,000 spectators were offered was a perfect match between two players who acted at the zenith of their skills. Even in the drama almost unmatched fifth set, neither of them played waiting. Again and again they searched for the decision, set centimeter -precise profit strokes, overwhelmed each other in grueling ball changes.
Sinner even made a comeback from 3: 5 to a 6: 5 tour. But in the end, Alcaraz, who was one year younger, who vigorously claimed in the press conference always won the chance: “Of course I believed that I was winning the match. Even when I had to ward off three match balls.
Successor of Federer, Nadal, Murray and soon Djokovic
What the Sunday confirmed again: Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are currently hurried to the competition. Sinner had easily got into the final, had not even given a sentence in the tournament until the third set in the final. His precise tennis is currently too much for the vast majority, as Alexander Zverev Bitter had to experience in the final of the Australian Open. Sinner has only lost eight times since the beginning of last year, five of them against Alcaraz. With his exuberant joy of playing, he is the perfect counterpart from Sinner. As early as 2024, they divided the titles of the four Grand Slam tournaments among themselves, and the two are also the absolute top favorites in Wimbledon and at the US Open.
The fact that the tennis is in good hands after Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and soon also Novak Djokovic. Since this Sunday, the tennis world has also known that there will continue to meet fascinating meetings in the future. After all, the two protagonists still have large parts of their career in front of them – and with this classic classic from Paris have set the benchmark for a new generation.
The storyline is already clear: here is the cool sensor, which has almost no weakness that can be adequately responded to all the scores and difficulties. On the other side Alcaraz, whose variability is unmatched. Even if Alcaraz’s achievements are not as constant outside of the Grand Slams as that of Sinner, he has his nose in the direct duels at the moment. In addition, Alcaraz is outstandingly good in tight situations. Here in the final he managed to win for the thirteenth five -set matches for the thirteenth time. But that he and Sinner are still at eye level was shown in today’s duel for eternity.
Competition has to stretch
However, if you will have to stretch yourself, you are the competitors. This unforgettable Sunday afternoon was confirmation that the competition either will have to put up with the superiority of the two, or that some players from the second row will have to adapt their approach. Young professionals like Jack Draper or Arthur Fils will be able to increase and will grow into real competition in the future.
But the “Sandwich generation” around Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev should have seen at the latest that great talent alone will not be enough to win big titles. Because the two new keepers of the game finally took their place on Sunday, with a bang, the reverberation of which will keep the tennis world for a long time.