Carlos Alcaraz has carved out his place in tennis history. In a breathtaking final on Court Philippe Chatrier, the 22-year-old Spaniard overcame Jannik Sinner in an epic five-hour-and-29-minute battle, coming back from two sets down and saving three championship points. The final scoreline — 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) — captures the magnitude of a match destined to live on in Grand Slam lore.
With this victory, Alcaraz not only defends his Roland Garros crown but also claims his fifth career major title. More significantly, by winning Monte Carlo, Rome, and now Paris in 2025, he achieves the rare and historic “Red Slam” — sweeping the three most prestigious clay tournaments in a single season. Only three players in the Open Era had done so before: Ilie Năstase, Thomas Muster, and Rafael Nadal.
Speaking after the match, Alcaraz made a heartfelt tribute to his rival: “You’re a role model and an inspiration for all of us. It’s an honour to share the court with you. I’m sure you’ll win this tournament — and more than once.” His words reflected the deep mutual respect between two stars shaping the future of the sport.
The Paris final also left its mark in the record books. It stands as the second-longest Grand Slam final of all time and the longest ever played at Roland Garros. Alcaraz became only the eighth man in history to recover from two sets down in a major final and the first to win the French Open title after saving match points. He also joined Roger Federer as the only players to win their first five Slam finals.
This Roland Garros triumph marks a major milestone in Alcaraz’s young career. With the Red Slam secured and a thrilling, respectful rivalry with Sinner already igniting the tennis world, the Spaniard looks poised to dominate the coming era. A new king of clay has arrived.