Carlos Alcaraz staged an unforgettable comeback to defend his French Open crown, Coco Gauff lifted her maiden title on Parisian clay, and Novak Djokovic hinted on the finish of his Roland Garros journey.
The 2025 version of the French Open delivered high-stakes drama, historic milestones and a transparent message – the subsequent era has arrived.
Alcaraz exorcises Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz saved three match factors and clawed his manner again from two units all the way down to defeat world No. 1 Jannik Sinner within the longest males’s ultimate in French Open historical past, lasting 5 hours and 29 minutes.
The 22-year-old Spaniard triumphed 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2), turning into the primary man since 2004 to efficiently defend the boys’s title at Roland Garros.
Alcaraz, typically labeled Rafael Nadal’s inheritor on clay, matched his idol’s report of 5 Grand Slam titles by the identical age.
“It’s destiny,” mentioned Alcaraz, who recalled Nadal profitable his fifth Slam at Wimbledon in 2008 when he was simply in the future youthful than Alcaraz is now. “It’s a stat I’ll keep forever – it’s a huge honor.”
The match towards Sinner was a basic, crammed with livid rallies, momentum shifts, and a brilliant tiebreak end.
At 6-5 down within the fifth, with the match slipping away, Alcaraz discovered a approach to maintain, forcing the decider. “Honestly, I still don’t know how I saved that game,” he mentioned.
The conflict additionally marked the primary main ultimate between two males born within the 2000s, opening a brand new chapter in males’s tennis.
With Sinner holding three main titles and Alcaraz now at 5, their rivalry is ready to outline the subsequent period. “He’s going to do his homework, and I will too,” Alcaraz mentioned. “We’re going to see each other in more finals.”
Gauff fulfills French dream
Coco Gauff, simply 21 years outdated, captured her second profession Grand Slam and first French Open title with a measured, mature win over Aryna Sabalenka.
The American phenom, who first made headlines at Wimbledon as an adolescent in 2019, managed the ultimate with poise, energy and function.
Her efficiency marked the primary Roland Garros title for an American lady since Serena Williams a decade in the past.
After her victory, Gauff used the second to talk past tennis. “I try to be a beacon of hope for Americans who look like me,” she mentioned, referencing present tensions within the U.S.
Gauff’s rise has been regular, and this title cements her as a future fixture on the prime of the game. With a rising sense of confidence and management, she seems prepared to hold the torch left by legends like Serena and Venus Williams.
Sabalenka’s psychological woes
Despite holding the No. 1 rating and three main titles, Aryna Sabalenka once more stumbled in a ultimate, committing 70 unforced errors in her loss to Gauff.
The 27-year-old Belarusian had appeared to maneuver previous the nerves that plagued her early profession however has now misplaced back-to-back Slam finals, together with a surprising upset to Madison Keys in Melbourne.
Though she stays a favourite heading into Wimbledon, Sabalenka should regroup rapidly so as to add the lacking French and Wimbledon titles to her resume. “It’s about resetting mentally,” her crew famous after the match. “The tools are there, but the execution slipped.”
Djokovic’s French farewell?
Novak Djokovic could have performed his ultimate match at Roland Garros after falling to Sinner in a decent semifinal.
The 38-year-old battled by means of to the final 4, together with a commanding win over Alexander Zverev, however in the end fell brief.
In his post-match remarks, Djokovic acknowledged that his time in Paris is likely to be over.
“I don’t know how many more times I’ll be back here,” he mentioned, including that January’s Australian Open – the place he’s gained a report 10 titles – could possibly be his ultimate stand.
Though he stays aggressive on the highest stage, Djokovic additionally acknowledges the surge of youthful stars desperate to take the highlight.
Whether or not he returns to Roland Garros, his legacy on the Slams stays unmatched with 24 main titles.
Source: www.dailysabah.com