A new era in men`s tennis has truly begun, marked by an exceptional event. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who have been leading the sport for the past two years, finally faced off in a Grand Slam final, a meeting that felt long overdue despite their prominence, much like top boxers avoiding each other.
Roland-Garros provided the stage for these two elite athletes, and they delivered an unforgettable classic. In a thrilling five-set battle lasting five hours and 29 minutes – the longest final in French Open history – Alcaraz ultimately emerged victorious, dramatically saving three championship points en route to his win.
This historic match was the first Grand Slam final featuring two players born in the 21st century, strongly indicating that many more such high-stakes encounters are on the horizon based on their performance.
According to commentator Jonathan Overend, the final deserves to be considered among the greatest Grand Slam finals ever played. He ranked it within a select group of all-time great matches in the Open Era, even suggesting that the incredible quality of play sustained late into the match potentially surpassed the legendary 2008 Wimbledon final between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Overend highlighted the remarkably high standard of tennis maintained by both young competitors deep into the match. He expressed awe at their potential and pondered just how much higher they can take their game and their burgeoning rivalry. Noting their recent successes in major tournaments and their early peak, Overend predicted that Alcaraz and Sinner are destined to dominate men`s tennis for the next decade, pushing each other to unprecedented levels, mirroring the dynamic between the `Big Three`. He concluded that their rivalry represents a tremendously exciting prospect for the future of the sport.
Laura Robson: `It was Theatre`
Former British No 1 Laura Robson was captivated by the dramatic nature of the final, describing it as `theatre`. She was particularly struck by its unpredictability, affirming the unique excitement of live sport. While acknowledging the difficulty in directly comparing matches across different eras or even vintage encounters like Federer-Nadal finals, she felt the intensity and exhaustion levels in the fifth set were reminiscent of the epic Australian Open final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Robson believes the sport is incredibly fortunate to witness these two players driving each other to such exceptional performances in the wake of the `Big Three` era.
Carlos Alcaraz`s coach, former world No 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero, also commented on the significance of the rivalry, stating it is `amazing` for tennis. He expressed happiness for the sport to have two such talented players consistently competing for major trophies, noting that they both understand they must play exceptional tennis to defeat the other.
Tim Henman: `One of the Greatest Matches I`ve Ever Seen`
Former British No 1 Tim Henman shared the widespread acclaim for the match, calling it `one of the best, one of the greatest matches I`ve ever seen.` He emphasized that while top-ranked showdowns don`t always meet expectations, this Grand Slam final between the top two players was truly `something special.` Henman offered his commiserations to Jannik Sinner, acknowledging that he played `amazing tennis` and came incredibly close to winning.
Legendary player John McEnroe offered a bold perspective, suggesting that Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, when playing at their absolute peak, might even be favored against Rafael Nadal at his prime. However, he acknowledged the immense challenge of reaching the extraordinary title counts achieved by the `Big Three` (20+ Grand Slams). McEnroe concluded that the level of tennis currently being played by Alcaraz and Sinner is the highest he has ever witnessed in the sport.
