Carlos Alcaraz overturns Jannik Sinner at the end of the longest final in the history of the tournament – Liberation

« You are clearly the strongest on clay. » The words are by Jannik Sinner for Carlos Alcaraz. They date from the beginning of May, after the final in Rome. They resonate more true than ever, this Sunday, June 8. However, the Italian has never been so close to contradicting himself, and it was well believed that the hierarchy on the surface was going to vacillate, the throne of Spanish with it, as the Grail seemed for a long time promised to the Italian number. In a breathtaking dramaturgy, Alcaraz, led by two sets, went to draw we do not know where, saving up to three match balls, to eventually overthrow the whole chatrier, and keep his crown at the end of himself, after 5:29 minutes of play.

This final with Homeric proportions, the longest in history in Roland, could only take place. She had the flavor of a sweet dessert. It was the icing placed over fifteen Parisian which was promised to end in this way. With this « Sincaraz » volume 12, first of its kind in the Grand Slam final. A incongruity, as the two heroes have been stalking the circuit in recent months. From the Australian Open 2024, they have won the last five adults. Each on his side.

For almost a year, the owner of the Spanish title remains the only one to know the recipe to overcome the invincible Italian, two defeats on the last 49 games, each time against the Murcian. The last in two sets in early May in the final in Rome, therefore. The irreducible title in the face of the end boss. A synopsis at the more-than-perfect. In soundtrack, the HARDER BETTER FASTER STRONGER Daft Punk, played during the pre-match ceremonial, pressed the scenario to come well. First jerky, the blockbuster rose crescendo, set after set. To pour into a thriller with delusional twists and turns as the outcome pointed.

Like the first game, twelve minutes, there was no heating round. To wonder if the epilogue would be good for this Sunday. In three minutes, Alcaraz had already obtained a break ball, which had asked 1:30 a.m. from Novak Djokovic ahead. The battle plan was not very surprising Sinner side. Very simple in theory: zero amortized, zero slice, that warheads propelled from the dark green tarpaulins with BNP Paribas. It didn’t work much at first, the transalpine machine seemed to be tense. The very windy conditions, no doubt. Alcaraz should have benefited. But apart from a break quickly repaired by Sinner, the Spaniard has misined his rare opportunities, especially on the second opposing bullets. However, it was still hung.

Until this interruption at the end of the first set: Alcaraz had a problem with one of his lenses. After that, he didn’t see anything for a while on the court. Presumably investigated by the recurring gusts, number 2 had all the sorrows of the world to be adjusted, especially in the diagonal. Sinner did not really go to get the first set. Alcaraz offered him wrapped in three pretty direct faults.

Overall, the Spaniard has proposed a perilous strategy. He wanted to engage the showdown from afar with the Italian. Except that at this game, Sinner is a little notch above. It is not forbidden to think that the Murcian understood it at 2-0 30-15 in the second round. When it was the case, we stopped hearing the « Out » incessant line judges. Breaké, he returned like a devil on the Italian at 4-5, and on his only opportunity, he hung up the wagons, reassuring the worried spectators of a unilateral joust. But even by varying, for example with its famous « moonballs », these long and high bells distilled here and there to try to stop the relentless opposing mechanical, the 2024 champion gave the impression of having a stroke of his rival in the decisive game, again and always won by Tyrolean.

Alcaraz had never returned from a game where he was lagging behind by two sets to nothing. To the best of five sets, « I know I have time and that I am mentally strong enough to get back to it »however, he recalled at a press conference. The public believed it when, after a frantic chase in the third act, Alcaraz supported the fifth when Sinner returned to his mirrors. An event: Sinner remained in 31 sets won immediately in a big slam. The balance of power has balanced. Because Alcaraz is stubborn: he typed even stronger. By setting the telescope this time.

So exchanges have become endless journeys. With only one question, throbbing, before each point: who will make the other back down first? « You are too strong guys »howls a guy in the stands at 2-2, after yet another suffocating rally. He had not seen the rest: a permanent fight, a mano has every moment, where each point costs more than the previous one. And so on. Sinner will ruminate three for a very long time. On three times he had the opportunity to win the trophy. He will no longer have. By winning an unexpected putting into play. Alcaraz entered for good in the impenetrable brain of the transalpine. Disbreak, decisive game, set.

Then the race in mind in the last round after a new break. Alcaraz has maneuvered so well, dosing his cushioning to the millimeter, that he may have succeeded in the most beautiful of all prowess, Sunday: to get Sinne from his hinges, at 3-2, we see him annoyed, waving his arms towards the chair referee. Used-he has never won a marathon of more than four hours-the Italian nevertheless refocused, disabled as a beautiful devil, like this counter-amortie from elsewhere at 4-5, to resume the commitment of his opponent.

In vain: Alcaraz completed the game in very large, stratospheric in the super-tie-break. Until this Sunday, Sinner had never left head of a Grand Slam final. So it was necessary to bring down the Italian humanoid insubmersible. Take it at the end of the end, use it to the last battery. Alcaraz has never lost in the final of an adult. He is now six, including two here in Paris. « It’s going to be a good Sunday for tennis fans »he had promised on Friday. What a Sunday it was.