French Open 2025

As he faced up to the excruciating reality of trailing three championship points against the best player in the world, Carlos Alcaraz started his service preparation from the Court Philippe-Chatrier baseline with a deep, long breath. For most other players in the history of tennis, there was no reason to believe in any outcome other than defeat.

In his short time competing in the biggest matches of his sport, however, Alcaraz has made it clear that he is different to anyone who has come before him, both in the way he approaches his tennis and the unwavering belief that underpins his success. Alcaraz recovered and pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the sport, in an otherworldly confrontation, spectacularly toppling the world No 1 Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) after five hours and 29 minutes to defend his French Open title in Paris.

Alcaraz fights back to beat Sinner in all-time classic French Open men’s final – as it happened
Even before this moment, the greatest in his career so far, Alcaraz has built a reputation for maintaining his self-belief even when facing desperate deficits. He had already saved a significant match point against Sinner, pulling off an unforgettable recovery at 3am in their 2022 US Open quarter-final en route to his first major title. His five-set escape against Novak Djokovic in the 2023 Wimbledon final was an instant classic. None of that compares to the madness that unfolded here in the final match of the tournament.