After an exhausting five hours and 29 minutes of high-stakes tennis, Carlos Alcaraz struck a final down-the-line forehand winner before collapsing onto the clay court, covering his face with his hands. Just moments later, he stood up and shared a quick, mutually respectful embrace with Jannik Sinner at the net.
Alcaraz ultimately claimed victory in the French Open final on Sunday, staging an incredible comeback by saving three championship points while trailing 5-3 in the fourth set. The final score was 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2). This match ranks as the second-longest major final in the Open era, the longest ever at Roland Garros, and the first time the tournament`s final went to a fifth-set tiebreak. While Alcaraz won the title, both players left an indelible mark.
“I`ve been involved in this sport for 30 years, and I`m fortunate to have witnessed many matches – that was easily one of the greatest,” commented John McEnroe, visibly stunned on the broadcast after the match concluded.
For two decades, the men`s tennis scene was dominated by three legends: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer, who collectively amassed 66 major titles. However, the landscape has shifted recently. Federer retired in 2022, followed by Nadal last season. The 38-year-old Djokovic is still active and reached the semifinals at Roland Garros, but his career is clearly winding down.
Many speculated on who would emerge to fill the immense void left by the “Big Three.” While players from the generation born in the 1990s made attempts, none consistently established themselves at the very top. However, Jannik Sinner, 23, and Carlos Alcaraz, 22, have rapidly proven themselves as the clear successors.
Sunday`s match was their first meeting in a major final, and Sinner`s first loss in a Grand Slam championship decider. The debate is now over. Between them, this pair has won the last six major titles, officially ushering in the era of the new “Big Two.” Their rivalry appears set to define the sport for the next decade, and possibly beyond.
“Honestly, every match I play against him is significant,” Alcaraz stated after the final. “This was our first meeting in a Grand Slam final. Hopefully, it won`t be the last. Because, as I`ve often said, whenever we face each other, we push our game to the highest level.”
This rivalry`s foundation was laid years ago, tracing back to Alcaraz`s very first professional match.
This isn`t an exaggeration. Competing as a wild card in a Challenger event in Spain, a 15-year-old Alcaraz faced a 17-year-old Sinner, also a wild card entry. That initial encounter lasted three sets and nearly two hours, with Alcaraz narrowly securing the win.
The small crowd present at that match might have glimpsed their potential, but it took several more years for both players to truly make their mark on the ATP Tour.
With each subsequent meeting, their matches became must-watch events. Sinner, known for his strategic approach and powerful groundstrokes, combined with Alcaraz`s versatile, athletic, and entertaining style, created an electric spectacle – pure entertainment.
Their first tour-level match saw Alcaraz win 7-6 (1), 7-5 in the round of 32 at the Paris Masters in 2021. They met again eight months later in the fourth round at Wimbledon, where Sinner won in four sets. Weeks later, they clashed once more, this time for a title at the Croatia Open. Again, the match went the distance, with Sinner rallying to win after losing the first set tiebreak.
However, it was their next encounter that truly cemented their status as a burgeoning great rivalry. Playing on Arthur Ashe Stadium in the quarterfinals of the 2022 US Open, with both aiming for their first major semifinal, the significance wasn`t lost on them. They battled late into the night, exchanging incredible feats of athleticism. There were seemingly endless rallies, delicate drop shots, and continuous highlight moments. After five hours and 15 minutes, Alcaraz emerged victorious with a 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-7 (0), 7-5, 6-3 win, finishing just before 3 a.m., the latest end time in tournament history.
The legend of their rivalry was officially born.
Following the US Open victory, Alcaraz`s career and profile soared. He won the tournament title and became the world No. 1 for the first time. Sinner`s climb to the top was steadier but consistent.
Sinner reached his first Grand Slam semifinal the following year at Wimbledon. Alcaraz won that title, further elevating his superstardom. Alcaraz secured six titles in 2023, including Wimbledon. Sinner won four trophies, most notably his first Masters 1000 title at the Canadian Open. In their three semifinal meetings that season, Sinner won twice.
“Every time we face each other, I feel like we both try to push the other to the limit,” Sinner commented before their final meeting of that season. “We dislike losing, especially against one another. Off the court, we have a very good relationship – we are good friends – but on court, you feel a bit of tension inside.”
But in 2024, their dual dominance of the tour became undeniable. Sinner began the year by winning his first major title at the Australian Open. Alcaraz then won the French Open – defeating Sinner in the semifinals – and defended his Wimbledon title weeks later. Sinner ascended to the No. 1 ranking in June and, despite facing questions regarding two failed drug tests, secured their joint major calendar sweep by winning the US Open title.
“Before, it was like Rafa, Roger, Novak,” observed Daniil Medvedev after losing to Sinner in the US Open quarterfinals. “Now, it`s Carlos and Jannik.”
Sinner started 2025 by successfully defending his Australian Open title. His opponent in the final, Alexander Zverev, declared him “the best player in the world by far” during the trophy ceremony. Even with a three-month suspension resulting from his failed doping tests in 2024, he has remained significantly ahead of his rivals in the world rankings.
Carlos Alcaraz, meanwhile, has won the most titles this season. He secured two ATP 1000 clay-court titles leading up to the French Open, as well as a 500-level title in Rotterdam in February.
“Carlos is already a legend of this sport, even though he`s younger than me,” said Lorenzo Musetti after losing to Alcaraz in the Monte Carlo final in April. “He`s a record-breaker, and sometimes on court, you can feel his aura.”
Alcaraz defeated Sinner in the Italian Open championship match with a score of 7-6 (5), 6-1 last month, in Sinner`s first tournament back.
Despite their remarkable success and collective brilliance, one element was still missing from their burgeoning rivalry, something that defined the Big Three era: a direct clash in a major final. Leading into the French Open, there was widespread anticipation that this encounter was destined to happen, and throughout the fortnight, the two players appeared to be on a collision course.
On Friday, Alcaraz defeated Musetti to reach the final, while Sinner overcame Djokovic in three sets. Sinner`s victory over Djokovic seemed symbolic – marking the end of the Big Three era and the formal commencement of the new Big Two.
Even Djokovic, who had previously suggested they were years away from being compared to himself, Federer, and Nadal, acknowledged the significance of their first meeting for a Slam title.
“They are undoubtedly great for tennis, both of them,” Djokovic commented. “I believe their rivalry is precisely what our sport needs. The way they play and their approach to tennis and life suggests they will have very successful careers for many years to come. I`m confident we will see them lifting major trophies frequently.”
Amelie Mauresmo, a former two-time major champion and now the French Open tournament director, expressed her excitement about their growing rivalry and its positive impact on the sport ahead of Sunday`s final.
“We wondered how it would be possible after the era of the Big Three or Big Four [including Andy Murray], but yes, it seems likely that these players will remain at the top for a long time,” Mauresmo told the media. “They already demonstrate an extremely high level for their age and have achieved some incredible wins. Naturally, we can anticipate them being dominant for years, with an underlying rivalry that will truly energize the tour.”
Alcaraz came into Sunday`s final with momentum, a strong record on clay, and a 7-4 lead in their head-to-head meetings. However, Sinner, who hadn`t dropped a set en route to the final, did not appear to be the underdog at the start. Sinner won the lengthy 12-minute opening game and took early control, winning the first two sets and seemingly heading quickly towards his fourth Slam title.
But Alcaraz refused to yield. With a breathtaking display of grit and powerful tennis, he fought back to force a fourth set. There, he saved three match points and clawed his way into a tiebreak, ultimately pushing the match to a decider. Yet, Sinner remained resilient. Alcaraz held a 5-3 lead in the fifth set, only for Sinner to respond immediately.
Neither player showed significant signs of fatigue as the minutes stretched on and on. Both moved effortlessly across the court, exchanging highlight-reel points. However, in the final tiebreak, Alcaraz was dominant, racing to a 7-0 lead and maintaining control until the end.
“I honestly can`t recall a better Roland Garros final,” remarked John McEnroe, a seven-time major champion. “After all the discussion about the future of tennis once Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic are gone – it seems the sport is in excellent hands with these two.”
Rafael Nadal congratulated both players, calling it an “incredible ending” to the tournament and a “great battle.” The match was second only to Nadal`s 2012 loss to Djokovic at the Australian Open (five hours and 53 minutes) as the longest major final in history.
Sinner retains his position as the world No. 1, with Alcaraz 2,030 points behind him, and a significant gap separating them from the rest of the players. Alcaraz now holds five major titles, while Sinner has three.
It appears certain that more trophies and memorable finals await both young stars. While the tennis world buzzes about their future, they remain publicly humble about what`s to come.
Before the final, Sinner was asked if he believed his rivalry with Alcaraz could become the greatest in the sport`s history. Sinner wasn`t quite ready to make that claim.
“Oh, it takes time. It takes time to compare us with the Big Three or Big Four,” Sinner responded. “Frankly, I think only time will tell. From my perspective, he is a player who pushes me to be better. He challenges me to my limits. This rivalry could potentially be one of the greats, but there are other amazing players emerging. Others could join, or someone could fall back. You just never know.”
Marcus Bellamy