New Delhi: Carlos Alcaraz matched his idol, the legendary Rafael Nadal, after beating world no.1 Jannik Sinner in an epic final to retain his French Open men’s singles title. Alcaraz and Sinner tested each other’s limits in a marathon final that lasted five hours and 29 minutes to become the longest summit clash in the tournament’s history.
Alcaraz saved three match points and came from two sets down to register a thumping comeback on his way to lifting the fifth Grand Slam title of his career. Sinner was 5-3 up in the fourth set, just one point away from winning his maiden French Open title. However, defending champion Alcaraz saved three match points and won the set 7-6 (7-4) to register a 4-6, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (10-2) victory in the final.
With his second consecutive French Open triumph, Alcaraz equalled Nadal’s stunning feat of winning five Grand Slams at 22. The Spaniard said it is ‘destiny’ that he and his idol Nadal both won their fifth Grand Slam when they were 22. At 22 years, one month and three days, Alcaraz became the third-youngest to win five men’s singles Grand Slam titles after Nadal (22) and Bjorn Borg (21).
Nadal was exactly 22 years, one month and three days old when he won his fifth Grand Slam by defeating his eternal rival Roger Federer, in the Wimbledon final in 2008. When asked about the stunning coincidence, Alcaraz said it could only be ‘destiny’ and insisted the stat will always remain close to his heart.
“Honestly, the coincidence of winning my fifth grand slam in the same age as Rafa Nadal, I’m going to say that’s destiny, I guess,” Alcaraz said after the game.
“I mean, it is a stat that I’m going to keep for me forever, winning the fifth grand slam at the same time as Rafa, my idol, my inspiration. It’s a huge honour, honestly. You know, hopefully it’s not going to stop like this,” he added.
Rafael Nadal was 22 years, 1 month, and 3 days old when he won his fifth Grand Slam.
Carlos Alcaraz is 22 years, 1 month, and 3 days old today.
And he just won his fifth Grand Slam.Tennis heritage. pic.twitter.com/wQmBzoKOTd
— ً (@nadalprop_) June 8, 2025
Alcaraz and Sinner gave their all in what will go down as one of the best French Open finals in the history of the tournament. While Sinner dominated the Spaniard comfortably in the first two sets, Alcaraz’s tenacity, composure, his exceptional court coverage and impeccable stamina eventually proved to be the difference as the 22-year-old handed the world no.1 his first defeat in a Grand Slam final.
Carlos Alcaraz joins Roger Federer in elite list
Alcaraz also joined the legendary Roger Federer in an elite list by becoming only the second player to win the first five Grand Slam finals of his career. Federer was the first male player to win the first five Grand Slam finals of his career. Alcaraz is yet to lose in a Grand Slam final that he has featured in. Alcaraz, who has now won a Grand Slam title for four consecutive years, is only the fourth player to so after the Big 3 – Nadal, Djokovic and Federer.
Carlos Alcaraz called it ‘destiny’ as he lifted his fifth Grand Slam title at 22, the same age as his idol Rafael Nadal. Alcaraz defeated world no.1 Jannik Sinner in a marathon five-set final to retain the French Open title on Sunday. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
