Carlos Alcaraz Triumphs in Longest-Ever Roland-Garros Final After Epic Battle with Jannik Sinner
Some matches transcend mere sport and etch themselves into history — and Sunday’s French Open final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner was exactly that kind of spectacle. In a stunning five-set showdown, Alcaraz emerged victorious in a battle that will be remembered as the longest final ever contested at Roland-Garros.
The 22-year-old Spaniard defeated world No. 1 Jannik Sinner 4–6, 6–7(4), 6–4, 7–6(3), 7–6(2) after an extraordinary 5-hour, 29-minute marathon on the clay courts of Paris. The match broke the previous Roland-Garros final duration record of 4 hours and 42 minutes, which had stood since 1982 when Mats Wilander outlasted Guillermo Vilas.
This match was not only historic for the French Open, but also marked the second-longest final in Grand Slam history. Only the legendary 2012 Australian Open final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal — which lasted 5 hours and 53 minutes — went longer.
For Alcaraz, it was a monumental win on multiple levels. It marked his second consecutive French Open title and further cemented his status as one of the sport’s brightest stars. Along with the trophy, he took home a record $2.9 million in prize money, pushing his career earnings to approximately $44.7 million. Sinner, despite the heartbreaking loss, earned $1.4 million and now boasts around $41.5 million in career prize money.
The final itself was a rollercoaster of emotions and momentum swings. Sinner looked to be in control early on, claiming the first two sets and appearing poised to win his first Roland-Garros crown. In the fourth set, with a 5–3 lead, the Italian had three championship points. But Alcaraz, known for his resilience and flair for the dramatic, saved all three and turned the match around with a breathtaking comeback.
From there, the match only intensified. Alcaraz clawed his way back to take the fourth set in a tiebreak and forced a deciding fifth. Both players showcased astonishing physical and mental stamina as the match wore on, but it was Alcaraz who found the extra gear when it mattered most. In the final-set tiebreak, he delivered a masterclass in composure and precision to seal the historic win.
For Sinner, the match marked another grueling loss in a five-set epic — he is now 0–6 in matches lasting over four hours. While he leaves Paris still holding the world No. 1 ranking, the pain of a missed opportunity will likely linger.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, continues to write his own extraordinary chapter in tennis history. With two French Open titles under his belt at just 22 years old and now having participated in one of the greatest finals the sport has ever seen, he has firmly established himself as the future — and present — of men’s tennis.