Carlos Alcaraz Reveals Inspiration from ‘This’ Tennis Legend in Overcoming Three Championship Points Against Jannik Sinner in Roland Garros Final

Carlos Alcaraz took inspiration from his elder Spaniard in overcoming the deficit against Jannik Sinner.

Carlos Alcaraz Reveals Inspiration from ‘This’ Tennis Legend in Overcoming Three Championship Points Against Jannik Sinner in Roland Garros Final

Carlos Alcaraz (image via Roland Garros)

Carlos Alcaraz revealed that Rafael Nadal‘s legendary fighting spirit inspired his comeback in the 2025 French Open final. Facing a two-set deficit and three championship points, Alcaraz dug deep to turn the match around against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. His resilience in the crucial moments shifted the momentum in his favor.

The dramatic clash ended in a fifth-set tiebreak, with Alcaraz prevailing 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6. It is already being hailed as one of the greatest French Open finals ever played. The contest lasted five hours and 29 minutes, making it the second-longest major final in Open Era history. Alcaraz said in his post-match interview at Roland Garros:

When I was feeling worse, I had no more strength, I tried to think about Rafa, about all the comebacks he made.

After lifting the trophy, Alcaraz credited Nadal as a key source of mental strength. Nadal’s ability to fight through adversity had left a lasting impression on him. The Spaniard used that mindset to power through the toughest stages of the match and claim his fifth Grand Slam title.

Sinner, although heartbroken by the loss, showed sportsmanship in defeat. He acknowledged Alcaraz’s performance and congratulated him after the match. However, he admitted that the missed opportunities and narrow loss would be hard to forget.

How Carlos Alcaraz Conquered Roland Garros Again

The 2025 French Open final reached its peak late in the fourth set and again deep in the fifth. Carlos Alcaraz, down 3-5 and facing triple championship point at 0/40, displayed incredible resilience. He saved all three points and then broke Jannik Sinner’s serve to turn the match around.

Carlos Alcaraz (via X/The Tennis Letter)
Carlos Alcaraz (via X/The Tennis Letter)

The noise inside Court Philippe-Chatrier grew louder as the night wore on. Despite missing his chance to serve out the match at 5-4 in the fifth, Alcaraz didn’t waver. He gathered himself and prepared for one last effort as the match headed into a decisive fifth-set tie-break—something never before seen in a Roland Garros final.

Alcaraz’s composure stood out in the closing moments. In the tie-break, he elevated his level, firing four winners and showing no signs of nerves. On championship point, he sprinted and struck a forehand passing shot down the line, leaving Sinner motionless as the ball landed in.

With the win, Alcaraz became only the third man since 2000 to defend the French Open men’s title. He now joins tennis legends Gustavo Kuerten and Rafael Nadal in that elite group, proving once again that he thrives under the sport’s most intense moments.

Carlos Alcaraz Achieves Considerable Records at Roland Garros

Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz secured his 37th win of the season, the highest on the Tour this year. With this victory, he improved his head-to-head record against Jannik Sinner to 8-4. The Spaniard has now won their past five encounters and maintained a perfect record in Grand Slam finals, standing at 5-0. At just 22, he became the third-youngest man in history to win five majors, behind only Bjorn Borg and Rafael Nadal.

Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz
Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Alcaraz entered Roland Garros with strong momentum, having won Masters 1000 titles in Monte-Carlo and Rome. Despite missing Madrid due to an adductor injury, he quickly regained top form. His second French Open title now places him among a select group. Since 1990, only Thomas Muster and Rafael Nadal had previously claimed multiple clay Masters 1000 trophies and Roland Garros in the same season.

The Spaniard’s form throughout the clay season was exceptional. His ability to recover from injury and dominate at the highest level highlighted his mental toughness and physical preparation. Each victory added weight to his growing legacy on clay.

With this title, Alcaraz reached his 20th career title on the ATP Tour. He is now the first man born in the 2000s to achieve this feat, continuing to break records and set new standards for his generation.

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