Precise Timeline in Carlos Alcaraz’s Pursuit of Rafael Nadal’s Legacy is Scary!

Carlos Alcaraz scripted history after clinching a scintillating five-set victory over Jannik Sinner in the French Open final.

Precise Timeline in Carlos Alcaraz’s Pursuit of Rafael Nadal’s Legacy is Scary!

Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K, Jose Morgado)

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner battled in an unforgettable French Open final that lasted for five hours and 29 minutes- the longest French Open final in the history of tennis. Alcaraz came from two sets down and saved three championship points in the fourth round, later winning the thriller with a 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2) scoreline to defend his title.

With this win, the Spaniard reached multiple milestones. He has now claimed 12 Big Titles and is the third youngest man to bag five Grand Slam titles in the history of tennis, after Bjorn Borg (22 years and five days) and his compatriot Rafael Nadal (22 years, 33 days).

Nadal celebrated his 22nd birthday on June 3 and a month later, he lifted his fifth Major back in 2008 in a grueling five-setter against Roger Federer, winning his first Wimbledon at the age of 22 years, one month, and three days old. Surprisingly, Alcaraz, who turned 22 this May 5, too became a Grand Slam winner for the fifth time in his career at the exact same age (22 years, one month, and three days old) as the 22-time Major champion.

He is also the youngest man to win two Roland Garros titles on the trot since Nadal (2005-2006). Alcaraz is the eighth man in the Open Era to successfully defend his Roland Garros title. Last year in Paris, after knocking out Sinner in an epic five-set semifinal, Alcaraz secured another five-setter, this time, against Alexander Zverev to his career’s first title in the clay-court Major.

Alcaraz now holds a 5-0 in Grand Slam finals. He took home his career’s first Major at the 2022 US Open and since then, he made it to at least one Major final in consecutive seasons, becoming the fourth player this century to achieve this after Nadal, Federer, and Novak Djokovic.

The Murcia native is now the third player to win at least two clay Masters 1000 and the French Open in the same year. He is the third player in the Open Era to take home a Grand Slam title after saving match points after Gaston Gaudio and Djokovic.

Jannik Sinner loses his first Grand Slam final after defeat to Carlos Alcaraz

Jannik Sinner played his third final of the season, winning the Australian Open and losing the Italian Open and the French Open. For the first time in his career, he lost a Grand Slam final. Though the defeat hurt him, he stated that he was positive about this performance in the pressurized situation.

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Alcaraz archive, Jannik Sinner HQ)

Of course, I’m happy to deliver this kind of level. Happy about the tournament still. But obviously, this one hurts. There’s not much to talk right now. But again, I’m happy how we are trying to improve every day. Trying to put myself in these kind of positions. It was a very high-level match. That’s for sure. So I’m happy to be part of this. But the final result hurts, yeah.

Jannik Sinner said at the press conference

Sinner now trails 4-8 in the head-to-head record over Alcaraz, losing five consecutive matches. He will now have to wait for the next season to clinch his career’s second title on the red dirt. Alcaraz, on the other hand, is now the winner of 11 clay-court titles. Before arriving in Paris, he reached the finals of the Monte Carlo Masters, Barcelona Open, and Italian Open, losing only in Barcelona.

Next is the grass season where Sinner has never made it past the semifinals (which he reached in 2023). Last year, the 23-year-old lost a five-set thriller to Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals.

Alcaraz is a two-time Wimbledon champion, winning in 2023 and 2024, beating 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic both times. He is a three-time champion on grass, while Sinner only has the Halle Open under his belt.

Also read: Novak Djokovic Is Confident His “Special Charm” at Wimbledon Will Bring out the Best in Him