PARIS (AP) — Carlos Alcaraz rallied from two units down and saved three match factors to beat Jannik Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) on Sunday and retain his French Open title for a second straight yr.
Alcaraz, who gained his fifth Grand Slam match in as many finals, produced one of many biggest comebacks within the historical past of the clay-court match.
It was the primary time that Sinner had misplaced a Grand Slam remaining.
It was additionally the longest-ever French Open remaining — 5 hours, 29 minutes — within the Open Period.
After 3 hours, 43 minutes, Sinner had his first match level. However with simply over 5 hours because the match started, Alcaraz served for the title at 5-4 up.
The drama was nonetheless not over.
Sinner made a exceptional retrieve from one more very good Alcaraz drop shot. On the very restrict he may stretch to, Sinner glided the ball over the online, with the ball touchdown with the softness of an autumn leaf and out of Alcaraz’s attain to make it 15-40.
When Sinner gained the sport to make it 5-5, it was his flip to exploit the applause and he was two factors away from victory within the twelfth recreation, with Alcaraz on serve and at 15-30 and at deuce.
However Alcaraz made a staggering cross-court backhand to make it 6-6 and power a tiebreaker, with the gang going wild when Alcaraz’s cross-court winner made it 4-0.
Sinner couldn’t discover a manner again and Alcaraz gained the match with an excellent forehand cross down the road after which fell onto his again to have fun.
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