Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz, French Open 2025 Final Highlights: Alcaraz defends title with epic win over Sinner in record final

Alcaraz finishes it with a stunning forehand down-the-line winner and then collapses to the ground the way Rafael Nadal did all those years ago when he beat Roger Federer in that epic Wimbledon final. But really, take a moment to appreciate both these players. A gladiatorial contest like no other is what we witnessed today. 

Carlos comes up with one of the best points of the match in the fifth set tiebreak. You’d not see a better volley all year perhaps.

CARLOS YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/UBno0CjWRW

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2025

After nine points in a row to Alcaraz, Sinner holds at last. A 194kmph rocket of a serve down the T, Alcaraz gets a forehand to it but it goes out wide. We aren't be seeing the start of another fightback, are we?

Alcaraz has cracked those points away in quicktime. He whips a forehand and earns a mini-break. Another forehand volley winner takes him to 4-0. 

Alcaraz with a ridiculous cross-court backhand pass from deep behind the baseline that leaves Sinner stranded. That ends a game filled with highlight reels. Five sets with two tie-breakers are not enough to decide this epic. Into the tie-break we go. 

It's quite simple (it's anything but), if Sinner breaks Alcaraz, he wins the French Open. If Alcaraz holds, the title will be decided via a tie-breaker. First an ace, then another to make ot 40-15 but, as expected really, Alcaraz fights back to deuce. Sinner has an advantage shot down before he converts the second one. 

Oh the humanity! Alcaraz falters just when he could've finished it and Sinner, all credit to him, latches onto it like this is the 10th minute of the match and not the 6th hour. Alcaraz made two unforced errors there, both of them attempted drop shots that normally end matches. Sinner now has a skip in this step. This final is never ever going to end. And well, who wants it to? 

Well Sinner didn't really give Alcaraz much to work with. He raced to a 30-0 lead before Alcaraz built pressure with deep shots and blasts a forehand winner to make it 30-15. Then Sinner makes it 40-15 with a booming serve that stumps Alcaraz and then forces a forehand error from the Spaniard to take the game. 

But now, Alcaraz serves for the match. And yes, we have gone past 5 hours. Sinner's mother has been shown time and again, she had a proper mascara on at the start of this match. That has now become dark circles around her eyes, she has either looked livid or close to tears for much of this match. She still looks quite tortured. Oh to be a tennis parent. 

Another hold for Alcaraz. A straightforward one, he keeps Sinner at love. And the ole's are getting louder and louder from his supporters. If he breaks Sinner here, he will end up winning what is surely one of the greatest French Open finals of all time. What can be said for sure is that we are privileged to see this match and see these two athletes pushing themselves to the limit. This is the very best the sport of tennis can offer.  

4 hours and 51 minutes of play, and they're still hitting shots like this ??#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/P0HuwEzcuk

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2025

A hold to love. It has been rare for Sinner to get one of those in the last hour or so but here it is. A quick point is something Sinner would've been desperate for and he has it. But he also desperates needs to break Alcaraz's serve and can he do that here? 

Meanwhile, we are just over 10 minutes away from this becoming the first French Open final to stretch to five hours. Five hours. On a clay court. What an astonishing feat of endurance from these two champions. 

4 hours 43 minutes… and counting. This is now officially, the longest ever French Open men's singles final. The previous record was for the 1982 final in which Mats Wilander beat Guillermo Vilas in 4 hours and 42 minutes. 

This match is something else. pic.twitter.com/HU039t8D7g

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2025

Alcaraz raced tp 30-0 before Sinner levelled it up. Alcaraz makes it 40-30 with a sharp forehand that forced a backhand error from Sinner. But Sinner then sends in a blistering backhand in the next rally to make it deuce. He raises advantage after an intense baseline exchange was concluded with a forehand error from Alcaraz. Those had disappeared for a while. Alcaraz then makes it deuce again with a powerful forehand winner. Then he raises advantage after first changing direction in a cross-court rally before finishing it off with one of those deadly drop shots of his. Deuce again though with a forehand winner from Sinner. Then comes the first double fault of the match and it is Alcaraz who suffers for it but the Spaniard brings it back to deuce as he makes Sinner stretch with a backhand cross-courter. Alcaraz then sends Sinner fetching on his backhand with his serve before closing it off. 

Sinner really looked like he was struggling mentally after he was broken and he didn't seem much better as Alcaraz got to 40-15 on his serve and then held almost effortlessly. Sinner, however, would feel better by the hold that came later though, with Alcaraz just winning one of those rallies. 

The set starts off with a 13-shot rally. Alcaraz with an aggressive return and both players exchange booming groundstrokes. Alcaraz creates an opening with an angled forehand which is too much for Sinner to handle. Alcaraz then dictates the next rally fully, takes 30-0 lead on Sinner's serve. Both players push each other wide after that before Sinner takes one back. But then his forehand goes long after that, Alcaraz leads 40-15. Sinner saves a break point but then Alcaraz forces a backhand error with a sensational drop shot. 

Strap in, this is going to be a roller-coaster ride if this final set is going to go the way exactly the way this match has thus far. Sinner makes it 3-4 with a volley winner but then Alcaraz reels away two points with his serve. He thus raises three set points and converts the first one itself, breaking Sinner's serve with a blistering forehand winner. 

ALCARAZ SENDS IT TO A 5TH SET ?#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/4xYKQr1kpp

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2025

Sinner breaks Alcaraz's serve first time and then holds before Alcaraz does the same to make it 2-1. Two aces follow and Alcaraz leads 3-2. Sinner then serves wide, Alcaraz returns with a short cross-courter, then comes a brief deep backhand exchange before Alcaraz unleashes a forehand. Sinner stretches but his shot goes wide.

Alcaraz holds to love and then pricks Sinner by first cutting his 30-0 lead in half and then making it 40-30. But Sinner holds in the end and so onto the tie-break we go for a second time in this match. 

OH NO WAY! Alcaraz milks that momentum from the last game, Sinner sends a forehand long and then he stumps Alcaraz with a delicate volley to make it 15-15. Then an unforced error makes it 30-15 in favour of Alcaraz and then he masterfully handles a backhand exchange before finishing it off with a drop volley to go 40-15. Alcaraz then forces an error from Sinner with his forehand and there is the break. 

Big cheers everywhere, Alcaraz waves a victorious first around but he is not really celebrating. There is still a job to do. Sinner races away to a 40-0 lead before Alcaraz chews his way back. 

Sinner starting to get back into that zone where he looks unplayable. He keeps pounding away at Alcaraz's forehand before suddenly changing direction, forcing the backhand error from the Spaniard. One more break and the French Open is his. 

We are starting to see some vintage tennis now. No big long rallies in these last two games but both these players are just unrelenting now. We had stages in the previous set where either it was Sinner or ahead or, later on, Alcaraz. They are both on an even keel in this set. At the moment, it is still safe to say Sinner is ahead simply because he only needs to win this set to take the title. 

Oh hang that rally in the Louvre. Sinner leads 15-0 after Alcaraz holds to lead 2-1 in this set. Then both players pound in some heavy groundstrokes, Sinner keeps pushing Alcaraz wider and wider before suddenly unleashing a backhand winner that seemed to break the sound barrier before hitting the clay. Alcaraz fights to 30 in that game. 2-2 in the fourth set. 

Over 3 hours in and this is the type of rally Sinner and Alcaraz are delivering ??#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/wl52EZGKUz

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2025

Alcaraz solid in serve and the same can be said for Sinner although it all started with quite the most astonishing rally. It all started with a body serve from Alcaraz that leads to a baseline battle. Big booming groundstrokes from both players before Alcaraz tries one of those heart-stopping drop shots of his. It falls short though and Sinner pounces with an overhead winner. That was a 16-shot rally. 

There it is. Sinner's run of set wins at Grand Slams ends at 31. An astonishing break here, Alcaraz wins all four points and leaves Sinner at love on the Italian's serve. Now that has not happened to Sinner for a long, long time. Onto the fourth set we go and maybe... just maybe, beyond?

SET 3 IS FOR ALCARAZ ????#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/4GZN4NHDJh

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2025

Title defence still alive.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/1Nfdf6NdgU

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2025

Well just fittingly, the PA plays the 'Stayin Alive'. At the moment, Sinner's bid to wrap the title up with this set remains alive and Alcaraz's bid to stay alive stays just about on. JUST ABOUT. Sinner has managed to hold and then break Alcaraz to incredibly come within a match of levelling this set up. Unbelievable stuff. 

A comfortable hold for Alcaraz. Well this match just couldn't be a straight-set win for Sinner, could it? Even though he had won 31 consecutive sets in Grand Slams when he won that second set. Alcaraz showing his class at long last. For now, it has brought him within a match of winning his first set of the match. 

Even the mis-hits are landing inside now for Alcaraz. Another sudden turn in momentum here but can Alcaraz hold on to it? He has been ahead at times in this match but Sinner has wrestled momentum right back. But it can be argued that this is the farthest ahead that Alcaraz has ever been at any point today. He dropped the first point thanks to a stunning backhand winner from Sinner. But Alcaraz builds his way back efficiently and Sinner didn't really a stand a chance in this game really. 

Oh hold on a second, there is life yet in this horse. That fourth game ends with an absolutely epic rally. 22 shots fired between these two champions, most of them heavy groundstrokes, until Alcaraz suddenly shifts direction and forces an error from Sinner. Could it be? It couldn't, could it?

Carlitos breaks and wants to hear the crowd ???#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/9iS6A7hOzR

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2025

Some aggressive returns and a booming forehand to finish it all off. This time, it is Sinner's unforced errors that cost the Italian. Level-pegging once again in the third set. 

Alcaraz lets out another verbal volley at himself and at his box when 15-30 down. Then he levels it but Sinner finds yet another ridiculous forehand to make it 40-30. A forehand error from Alcaraz gives Sinner the break. Alcaraz has never won from two sets down and it doesn't look like he is going to do it for the first time today either. 

Sinner and Alcaraz both held early on and the latter led 2-1. But then, Sinner was away. He held his serve and then went on to take points off Alcaraz's twice to race toa 5-2 lead. Another hold gets him to 6-2 before Alcaraz finally breaks the run. An astonishing drop shot at the end of a 9-shot rally helps Alcaraz cut it down to 6-4 but then there it is. That forehand error that has cost Alcaraz dear today. Here, it costs him the second set. Sinner is one set away...

Jannik Sinner is one set away from a maiden Roland-Garros title ?#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/BnZ4T4BHNz

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2025

A largely straightforward hold for Sinner. "Largely" because that that did include a spectacular rally that he had to win to make it 40-15 but that was the only point where Alcaraz pushed him really. Then Alcaraz holds to love again and so the second set, which seemed like one-way traffic at one point, has to be decided with a tie-breaker. 

Sinner serving...

And he does so by holding to love for the first time in the match. The grunts are louder from the Spaniard and so are the cheers from the fans taht he seems to have inherited from Rafael Nadal here in Paris. This is a real test now for Sinner. Alcaraz has fought back from 4-1 down to make it 5-5 in the second set!

HOW ABOUT IT! A backhand that goes long keeps Sinner away from the hold and Alcaraz, incredibly, has got a break and stays in this second set! He races to a 30-0 lead before Sinner's deep backhand pushes Alcaraz wide. His backhand sails wide. Sinner then returns a blistering cross-court forehand down the line to level it up. However, Sinner's backhand hits the net though and Alcaraz has a break point. He converts straightaway and the crowd cheers like he has won the set. Set or not, that is an important moment in this match for sure. 

Some real urgency there in Alcaraz's game which hasn't really been seen since he got that first break in the first set. However, only a break can stop Sinner from getting within a set of winning Roland Garros and, as stated earlier, unforced errors have been Alcaraz's greatest enemy today. Normally, those are anathema when searching for a break, especially if the opponent is Sinner in the mood that he is in today. 

Alcaraz stays with Sinner until 30-30. Then a forehand flies long and then yet another goes the same way and Sinner gets within a break of taking the second set! 

Both players hold serve and Alcaraz at the end of that 6th game of the second set starts pumping up the crowd. A hint of that famous smile as well there, which has been absent thus far. The crowd is definitely pining for him, being Nadal's heir and what not. 

Alcaraz serves Game 4 and seems set to bull his way through, racing to a 40-0 lead. But then comes two points for Sinner but the scare ends before it starts really, a clinical backhand volley winner does the job for Alcaraz. 

Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz Live, French Open 2025 Men’s Final: A game that largely belongs to Sinner except for an exceptional 23-shot rally that he won to lead 40-15. He follows that up with a serve right on the T, a backhand cross court battle ensues and then Alcaraz suddenly changes direction with a spinning forehand. Sinner, though, is up to the task, bangs the backhand return and an unforced error from Alcaraz gives him the game. 

Well this is not going well at all for Alcaraz. An unforced error at 15-30 gives Sinner two break points. He bites back but then clobbers a forehand long and well, Sinner takes the break. Alcaraz needs something here. That early momentum now feels a long time ago. 

Alcaraz asks the umpire to check a serve that he thought was out and it indeed was just about to make it 30-30. But then he blasts a forehand wide and lets out a volley on his box. Sinner goes on to take the first set. 

He takes the second break and the first set! It went on for an hour and four minutes, Alcaraz dominated much of the first half but wow has Sinner taken it by the scruff of the neck after that. Sinner lost the first point but Alcaraz's famous forehand faltered and Sinner had the Spaniard on his fingertips really. He goes 30-40 up thanks to an unforced forehand error from Alcaraz and then Sinner stretches to get a hold of Alcaraz's wide serve. He sends back a cross-court return, Alcaraz with yet another unforced serve and there is the set for Sinner.

Sinner strikes first, takes the lead ??#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/4hxtmkG84j

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2025

And we are still in the first set, albeit at the pointy end of it now. A little delay before Game 10 as Alcaraz needs some attention from his physio. Seems to have some dust in his eye, the physio does some digging and the Spaniard is good to go! He is serving. 

He served wide and to the body and down the T. Alcaraz was looking dominant in the first half of this game, now Sinner looking about 10km ahead of his opponent. He leads 5-4, the first set is his if he gets a break. 

It is Alcaraz who is looking more shaky on serve now. He trails 15-30 but then gets back in front with some powerful serving. Holds after that scare but Sinner is starting to look very dangerous indeed. 

Sinner holds to love! Well this is a remarkable reversal in momentum and we are still only in the first set! Sinner's first serve was down the T, the second right at Alcaraz, the third at the T again and the fourth... a repeat. Efficient from the Italian. 

Errors! Where hast thou been! Well, wherever they were, they arrived to Alcaraz's disadvantage. Sinner races to a 30-0 lead before Alcaraz bites back. Sinner pushes Alcaraz wide with an incredible cross-court return to a 197kmph serve. Alcaraz's backhand sails over the sideline and that gives Sinner break point. It is converted straightaway. 

All level at 3-3 ?#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/aPTCkJU9c1

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2025

There it is, it has been coming. Alcaraz using his drop volley to vicious effect and Sinner, for now, seems unable to find an answer. The Italian unleashed a 203kmph serve, Alcaraz responds with a powerful cross-courter, Sinner's forehand goes wide and there is the break for Alcaraz.

First break is for Carlitos ?#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/btBCUUKsYd

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2025

A shaky start for Alcaraz in that fourth game, two unforced errors lets Sinner race 30-0 ahead. Then Alcaraz serves right into Sinner, before sending him wide with a spinning forehand to bite back. He levels the game with a powerful forehand that forces a backhand error from Sinner, Another powerful wide serve from Alcaraz, the pair exchange backhands of increasing power in an engaging rally before a short ball from Sinner gives the Spaniard an opening. Advantage raised and then another intense battle triggered by a powerful serve on the T. Sinner's backand is his undoing and Alcaraz serves. 

Half an hour and we done with just four games. 

Some really long rallies early on. Alcaraz races to two breaking chances. Sinner saves the first with a booming serve and then a backhand winner helps him raise advantage. A good-old fashioned serve and volley then helps him hold. 

A far more straightforward hold for Alcaraz. The two go toe-to-toe until 40-40. Alcaraz then forces Sinner to stretch with his second serve, then comes a powerful forehand and then Alcaraz volleys his way to an advantage. His next serve wide but not too far, Sinner stretches and returns from deep cross-court, his final shot goes wide. 

Sinner avoids giving Alcaraz the break first time around with a sizzling second serve with heavy top spin right on the T-line. Alcaraz's back hand return goes long. But then stop press! For Sinner has been bullied from the baseline into going wider and wider before Alcaraz unleashes a vicious forehand to take advantage again! Then comes probably the rallty of the match thus far, with Alcaraz pushing Sinner wide and then attempting a drop volley. It had a bit too much on it though and Sinner responds with a perfect backhand pass. Sinner then pushes Alcaraz wide, the latter's return goes out and then Alcaraz's backhand goes wide. An incredible first game goes Sinner's way. 

12 minutes to get a first game on the board, we're in for a good one ?#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/PET2w02cAd

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2025

Alcaraz standing up close to the baseline towards the end of that first game, with the Spaniard having made it deuce. Sinner managed to take the advantage but then he never really recovered from an early slip after serving and eventually hit a forehand wide to get back to deuce. Alcaraz then buried a back hand into the net for Sinner to take advantage again. Alcaraz comes deep in the court by the time Sinner serves this time and the latter's forehand response to the Spaniard's return finds the net. Deuce again. Not the cleanest of returns from Alcaraz after that but Sinner was wrong footed by that, his back hand salvo goes wide and Alcaraz has a chance for an early break!

First time two players born in the 2000s are facing each other in a men's singles finalists of a Grand Slam and Sinner serves. A short exchange between the two before Alcaraz wins it. 

Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner, let's get it started ??#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/mZdf7Hi1jo

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 8, 2025

There has been a delay of about 20 minutes but who cares, here they are! Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have been announced on to the court, the Spaniard wins the toss and he chooses to receive. 

Sinner's tournament started with a 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 win over Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech. He then saw off another home challenge with a 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 win over Richard Gasquet. Then came a 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 win over Czech Jiri Lehecka after which Sinner beat Andrey Rublev 6-1, 6-3, 6-4. Sinner then ended the positivity train of Alexander Bublik with a 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 win in the quarter final before the 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) win over Novak Djokovic in the semis. 

Carlos Alcaraz started his tournament with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win against Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri after which he beat Hungarian Fabian Marozsan 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. Alcaraz then beat Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina 6-1, 6-3, 4-6 6-4 and then went on to beat American 13th seed Ben Shelton 7-6 (10-8), 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Alcaraz then absolutel pulverised Shelton's fellow American Tommy Paul 6-0, 6-1 and 6-4 in the quarterfinals before beating Lorenzo Musetti 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0, 2-0. 

The match at Court Philippe-Chatrier today will be the 12th between Alacaraz and Sinner. Alcaraz leads 7-4. The the latest of these was on clay at the Rome Masters. 

Novak Djokovic was bidding to win a 25th Grand Slam this week but that quest came to an end with a 4-6, 5-7, 6-7 to Sinner in the semi-final. This tournament started with him attending his great rival Rafael Nadal's farewell and well, he said that this match may just have been a farewell for him as well at the clay court Grand Slam. Read more HERE.