June 9, 2025: In a match that could go down as one of the greatest in French Open history, Jannik Sinner came within a single point of glory, three times. Instead, he walked away with heartbreak.
The 22-year-old Italian was on the brink of capturing his first Roland Garros title and securing his third Grand Slam in a row. But after leading Carlos Alcaraz by two sets and holding triple match point in the fourth, Sinner saw his dreams slip away in a dramatic five-set final that stretched to a record-breaking length.
“I tried to delete everything, every set,” Sinner said, reflecting on the painful collapse. “I was disappointed about the fourth set.”
Alcaraz clawed his way back from 0-40 down while trailing 3-5 in the fourth set, eventually forcing a tiebreak and taking the match to a fifth. The Spaniard sealed a thrilling 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2) win, claiming his first French Open title in a final that lasted over 5 hours—the longest in the tournament’s history.
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“It was a very, very high-level match,” Sinner said in his post-match press conference. “Obviously this one hurts. But it happens. We’ve seen it before with other players, and today it happened to me.”
Coming into Paris, Sinner had momentum. He was fresh off defending his Australian Open title and still riding high from his US Open win in 2023. This time, though, it was his turn to feel the sting of a comeback, after famously overturning a two-set deficit to beat Daniil Medvedev in Melbourne, he couldn’t finish the job from the other side.
Despite the bitter ending, Sinner showed remarkable composure and maturity, choosing to focus on the positives.
“It’s good for the sport and the fans,” he said of the high-quality final. “To be part of it is special. Of course, I’d rather be holding the trophy, but it is what it is.”
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He also credited his support network, especially his humble family, for keeping him grounded. “My dad wasn’t even here, he was working today,” Sinner said with a smile. “Nothing changes in our family because of success. We are simple people.”
With Wimbledon just around the corner, Sinner knows he can’t afford to linger in disappointment. Though the French Open loss will take time to heal, his focus is already shifting toward the grass courts of London.
“I stayed there mentally today. I didn’t give him free points,” he said. “And that’s something I can build on.”
