Monumental. Historic. Thriller. These were the words chosen by some of sport’s biggest headline-makers to describe what has been, without a doubt, a game for eternity. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are set to become the power duo of the decade – a passing of the torch played out in full view, as these two prodigies rise from the shadow and red dust left behind by tennis’s last great conqueror, Novak Djokovic. A new tennis dynasty is upon us. Best be ready.
Whoever witnessed the 5-hour 29-minute exchange can safely say that tennis is in good hands. And as of late, it’s in one pair of hands only – those of Carlos Alcaraz. The boy from Murcia, with his characteristic warm smile – the humble youngster, just 22 years old. Yet all the kindness and love Alcaraz is known for were replaced by a display of force, authority and resilience on Sunday, 9th June, at Court Philippe Chatrier, on the western outskirts of Paris.
Jannik Sinner had the upper hand in the early stages of Roland Garros’ longest match, with a comfortable first set lead, a strong tie-break performance, and aggressive pressure into the third set, capitalising on Alcaraz’s early mistakes. But Alcaraz knew he had to adapt in order to go head-to-head with Sinner – which he did well into the third set, defending against the Italian’s bullet-like forehand. The fourth set looked to be Sinner’s crowning moment, but Alcaraz came back on his serve, trailing 3–5, and began to materialise “la remontada”. Fiery shots to the court’s widest and deepest spaces gave him the chance to define the championship in a final, fifth set. Breaking Sinner’s serve with a drop shot, the mind games were now his.
However, this seemingly never-ending tennis saga saw Sinner break the Spaniard’s serve at 4–5, sending a warning: he was not ready to go down. They took the set to a deciding tie-break, where Alcaraz stormed ahead with winning shots and took the Grand Slam home – after almost six hours and a battle to be remembered for years to come.
The display of French elegance at Roland Garros extended far beyond the chic Nike overalls Alcaraz and Sinner wore to the final. Two days earlier, ahead of the Novak Djokovic–Cameron Norrie clash, we witnessed a flawlessly executed sporting crossover. Ousmane Dembélé, leader of Paris Saint-Germain’s men’s football team and fresh from lifting their first-ever Champions League trophy, stepped onto Court Philippe Chatrier in a smart outfit and with a grin that said it all. For a player once more renowned for his love of video games than the glamour of Roland Garros, it was a surprising yet delightful moment.
Two entirely different sports overlapping as effortlessly as neighbours sharing a table. Some might call it the power of proximity (Parc des Princes is only a ten-minute walk away). I’d call it the power of winning. Well done to the tournament’s marketing team.
Carlos Alcaraz is no ordinary champion. In a recent Netflix-produced documentary, he made his ambition clear: to become the greatest in tennis history – but on his own terms. He is neither Nadal, nor Federer, nor Djokovic. Alcaraz embodies a generational mindset: the pursuit of excellence and performance, tempered by balance. For him, joy and enjoyment are as essential as glory. This explains why, after each Roland Garros conquest, the Murcian continues to head off to Ibiza – to unwind with friends and family before getting back on the road and resetting for the grass season. Wimbledon – tennis’s most anticipated tournament of the year – is just around the corner. And for those curious and looking to take a break from it all: yes, the Balearic season has already begun.
