Carlos Alcaraz secured his first Grand Slam title at the 2022 US Open.
The captivating final even drew the Spanish national football team, who watched intently on a mobile phone before their Nations League match against Portugal.
Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner delivered a memorable five-set battle for the French Open crown.
After dropping the first two sets, the defending champion Alcaraz mounted a remarkable comeback, saving three championship points en route to a 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (10-2) victory.
Just two minutes before Spain’s Nations League final kickoff against Portugal at 20:00 BST, Alcaraz completed his stunning comeback.
The Spanish footballers, who also played a tightly contested match before losing in a penalty shootout, watched parts of Alcaraz’s triumph at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Spain lost to Portugal on penalties in the Nations League final.
Alcaraz shared a picture of himself holding the Coupe des Mousquetaires, playfully asking, “How was your Sunday?, external“
The 22-year-old’s fifth Grand Slam title win garnered widespread praise, mirroring the achievement of another legendary Spaniard, Rafael Nadal, at the same age: 22 years, one month, and three days.
Real Madrid, Alcaraz’s beloved team, offered congratulations, stating:, external “All madridistas are happy and proud of this brilliant success achieved by one of our own.”
Former Real midfielder Toni Kroos shared a photo, external with Alcaraz from 2022, initially captioned “The future. And me,” adding a simple “Told you” update.
The PGA Tour drew a comparison, even placing Alcaraz above golfing legend Tiger Woods.
“Five majors by age 22. Not even Tiger Woods did that,” the organization tweeted., external
Beyond the sports world, Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey acknowledged Sinner’s contribution, writing:, external “Thank you Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz for the absolute elite ‘mano y mano’ [hand and hand] competition. Wow.”
Alcaraz Upsets Sinner in Remarkable French Open Final
‘An All-Time Great Match? I’ll Let the People Decide’
With a 12-minute opening game, a marathon final between the world’s top two players was anticipated.
Ultimately, Alcaraz and Sinner played a five-hour, 29-minute match—the longest French Open final in history.
As the fifth set began around 18:45 BST, British player Naomi Broady adjusted her travel plans.
“I’ve just changed my Eurostar ticket because I think it is safe to say I’m not going to make the 9pm one,” Broady shared on BBC Radio 5 Live.
It proved worthwhile, with an emotional Broady stating she felt “so lucky that I got to be here to witness this”.
“It feels like this is absolutely going to be a historic moment of our sport,” she added.
Former British No. 1 Greg Rusedski compared Alcaraz to Harry Houdini, while TNT Sports commentator Nick Mullins dubbed him “King Carlos the Second—the red king in the longest Roland Garros final”.
“Carlos certainly didn’t invent tennis, but he is perfecting it,” added former British player Mark Petchey on TNT Sports.
Tennis has seen incredible matches, particularly during the “Big Three” era of Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer.
Djokovic, still pursuing a record 25th Grand Slam title, remains active. The 38-year-old lost in three sets to Sinner in the Paris semifinals.
The future of men’s tennis is bright, with Alcaraz and Sinner at the helm.
But where does their final rank among the all-time greats?
Tennis history boasts epic Grand Slam clashes, including:
Nadal v Federer – Wimbledon (2008)
A four-hour, 48-minute battle (nearly seven hours with rain delays), won by Nadal in five sets.
Djokovic v Nadal – Australian Open (2012)
Djokovic triumphed after five hours and 53 minutes, securing his fifth Grand Slam title.
Murray v Djokovic – Wimbledon (2013)
Andy Murray ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a men’s Wimbledon champion in three hours and nine minutes.
Federer v Djokovic – Wimbledon (2019)
Djokovic defeated Federer in a four-hour, 57-minute final, saving two championship points.
Live Scores, Results, and Order of Play
Receive Tennis News Directly to Your Phone