In her latest column, Gigi Salmon reflects on the unforgettable French Open men`s final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. She also recounts her conversation with Coco Gauff`s parents, Candi and Corey, following her first triumph at Roland-Garros. The column further delves into Britain`s performance on clay and Novak Djokovic`s touching farewell gesture, potentially marking his last appearance at the clay-court Grand Slam.
“Where were you when…” is a question likely to be frequently asked about the Roland-Garros men`s final. This match broke the record for the longest final in the tournament`s history, pushing both players beyond their physical and mental limits. It left spectators spellbound and even prompted me to say on air during commentary, “I love tennis!” – something I typically keep to myself.
Commentating for Radio RG, I had the honour of witnessing one of the finest matches I have ever seen live, and possibly the greatest Grand Slam final of all time.
High up in Court Philippe-Chatrier, the match commenced in the late afternoon Parisian sun and concluded four hours and 29 minutes later under floodlights.
This was the highly anticipated first Grand Slam final meeting between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, and surely the first of many. It was their 12th encounter overall and, honestly, the final everyone wanted. When these two face off, they invariably deliver. The contrast in their styles and personalities, coupled with their intense desire to be the best, creates captivating theatre.
Alcaraz, aged 21, now holds a perfect record of five wins from five Grand Slam finals. He also achieved a personal first during this tournament, successfully coming back from two sets down on his path to the title.
World No 1 Sinner, competing in only his second tournament since an injury layoff, demonstrated remarkable tenacity, pushing the match to five sets despite the physical demands.
The tournament began with a fitting tribute to the `King of Clay,` Rafa Nadal, marked by a plaque placed courtside in his honour. It concluded perfectly with a final truly for the ages.
I was fortunate to be backstage shortly after the match concluded, witnessing the full spectrum of emotions from those closest to the players – tears of joy, sadness, and immense pride. Many legends of the game found themselves at a loss for words to describe what they had just witnessed. When I asked tournament director Amelie Mauresmo how she felt, she simply replied, “speechless,” adding that she would reflect on a successful two weeks with a well-deserved glass of red wine.
Gauff`s Maiden French Open Title
The atmosphere backstage on Sunday was a stark contrast to Saturday, which was buzzing with excitement after Coco Gauff secured her second Grand Slam title, and her first in Paris.
Gauff`s three-set victory over World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka was significant for several reasons: challenging conditions, the American`s impressive comeback, Sabalenka`s struggles with the conditions and the pressure, and the dramatic unfolding of the match.
After the final, Daniela Hantuchova and I spent time chatting with Coco`s parents, Candi and Corey. They were filled with pride for their daughter, especially considering she is still only 21, and how admirably she handled everything.
Corey, her father, has stopped sitting in the player`s box during matches because he finds living and breathing every point too overwhelming there. In his own words:
“I don’t handle it well, that’s why I don’t sit in the box, I bring too much negative energy, I struggle all the way through – I find a corner and I stay in it.”
He also shared that her mental strength stems from her faith and significant `spiritual strength`, elaborating:
“I have great belief in myself and it can be contagious. I always think I can be the best at everything as if I don`t believe it then no one will – you must just believe in yourself.”
Gauff`s coach, JC Faurel, confessed that any coach claiming to be calm in the box is being untruthful and that he was an `internal mess`. Matt Daley, who joined the team last year, praised Gauff for her readiness to make strategic adjustments during matches. Everyone confirmed that the celebrations, before the Gauff family returned to America, were going to be significant and last well into the night!
So, Roland-Garros featured a new champion in Gauff, a final potentially unmatched in history, a moving tribute to the `King of Clay` at the start, and from a British perspective, an impressive four finals featuring British players.
Is Britain Becoming a Clay Nation?
The question was recently posed, `Is Britain becoming a clay nation?` It`s a bold statement, and while good progress is certainly being made, we are still a long way from clay being the top-ranked favourite surface for British players.
Jack Draper arrived at the French Open after a fantastic clay swing, reaching the final in Madrid and the quarter-finals in Rome, establishing himself as a serious contender.
However, few predicted him to win the title outright. Challenging players like Alcaraz and Sinner on clay would have been incredibly tough, and he ultimately fell in the fourth round to an inspired Alexander Bublik who played exceptionally well.
This doesn`t rule out future success on clay for Jack; all the indicators are positive, and he has gained invaluable experience over the past few months.
Cam Norrie had an excellent run to the fourth round, where he was eventually defeated by Novak Djokovic. His impressive five-set victory over former World No 1 Daniil Medvedev in the second round, lasting nearly four hours, was a highlight. After a challenging eighteen months, Cam can take significant positives onto the grass season, including a boost in his ranking. Meanwhile, Jack Fearnley achieved personal milestones with his first French Open match wins before losing to Norrie in the third round.
On the women`s side, all three British players advanced to the second round. Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal secured their maiden French Open match victories, while Emma Raducanu faced the tough draw of a resurgent Iga Swiatek in the second round.
British success was highlighted by a title and four finals. Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid claimed their 23rd Grand Slam doubles title together, and their sixth consecutive French Open doubles title. Hewett bounced back after losing the men`s wheelchair singles final earlier that day to World No 1 Tokito Odo.
Sixteen-year-old Hannah Klugman became the first British girl in 49 years to reach the junior final in Paris, marking her first Grand Slam singles final. Disappointment came for Joe Salisbury and Neil Skupski, who were runners-up in the men`s doubles final, becoming the first British pair to reach that final at Roland-Garros since 1936.
So, in conclusion, are we becoming a clay nation? No! Are we starting to embrace it more and see promising results? Yes!
Have We Seen Djokovic for the Last Time at Roland-Garros?
Novak Djokovic, who clearly enjoys the clay surface with 20 of his 100 titles won on it, including three at Roland-Garros, prompted questions about his future in the French capital.
After withdrawing before his quarter-final match against Casper Ruud due to injury, he made a point of pausing in the middle of Court Philippe-Chatrier to applaud the crowd before bending down to touch the clay – a poignant gesture.
When asked in his post-match press conference if this was a form of farewell, he replied:
“This could have been the last match ever I played here, so I don`t know.”
He added:
“Do I wish to play more? Yes, I do. But will I be able to play in 12 months` time here again? I don`t know. That`s all I can say for the moment.”
These are sensible words from a 38-year-old player who will be 39 when the French Open takes place in 2026.
I`ve heard from those close to him that he intends to continue playing next year, but other factors are involved. If he achieves Grand Slam title No 25, might he consider retiring having accomplished everything in the sport? He still has Wimbledon and the US Open scheduled for this year, and his physical condition, which ultimately led to Nadal`s retirement, will be a critical factor.
What a remarkable two weeks it has been in the French capital, culminating in a match that truly transcended tennis. On my flight back this morning, it was the primary topic of conversation among fellow passengers, a mix of dedicated tennis fans and those who were simply drawn in by the spectacle and couldn`t look away. It circles back to what I exclaimed about four hours into that final: `I love tennis!`
