Italian Federation President Compares the Roland Garros Final Between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to a Video Game

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz played a Roland Garros final of five hours and 29 minutes.

Italian Federation President Compares the Roland Garros Final Between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to a Video Game

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

Italian tennis president Angelo Binaghi was just like any other fan of Jannik Sinner after the Roland Garros final. However, he gained positives for the World No.1 after his career-best campaign at Roland Garros.

Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz played one of the greatest Grand Slam finals in history at Roland Garros. Binaghi, who has spoken highly of Sinner in the past, believed that the final felt like a ‘video game’. Binaghi said on Corriere della Sera:

In Paris, we won the two most human finals and lost the one between aliens: Sinner and Alcaraz brought speed, solutions, and a rhythm never seen before. It was like being in a video game, in the wolves’ den. Let’s wait until next year, when Jannik can play in Paris without the hindrances and stoppages of the last few months.

Sinner had three championship points in the fourth set against Alcaraz, but blew them before losing the set. He trailed 3-5 in the final set, before winning three games in a row to regain some hope of saving the final which felt like he had lost.

However, Alcaraz turned to another gear in the final set tiebreak, gaining a 7-0 lead before finally closing the tiebreak at 10-2. The World No.2 clinched his fifth Grand Slam title with a forehand winner on the dead run.

Carlos Alcaraz faces difficult draw at Queen’s Club

Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz is preparing to shift quickly from clay to grass after his recent triumph at the French Open. His five-set victory over Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros was widely praised as one of the greatest matches in tennis history. After securing his fifth Grand Slam title, the 22-year-old took a short break before turning his focus to Wimbledon, where he is the defending champion.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz (via the Tennis Letter)

Alcaraz heads into the 2025 Queen’s Club Championships with limited grass-court practice. He won this ATP 500 event in 2023 but could be vulnerable early on due to the quick turnaround. He will open against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, a player more comfortable on clay. This gives Alcaraz a good chance to ease into the tournament.

If he advances, tougher tests await. Big-hitting Ben Shelton could be his second-round opponent, and his serve is well-suited for grass. Alcaraz’s section of the draw also includes Holger Rune and former Queen’s Club winner Grigor Dimitrov, both of whom pose a threat on the surface.

After the French Open, Alcaraz faced some criticism in a Netflix documentary for taking a vacation in Ibiza. His coach and manager questioned the timing of the break. However, having won Wimbledon last year under similar circumstances, coach Juan Carlos Ferrero now seems more accepting of the decision.

Carlos Alcaraz gets bad news after Roland Garros final

Carlos Alcaraz is facing a significant financial setback following his French Open victory. Despite the glory of winning his fifth Grand Slam title, he will have to pay a large portion of his prize money in taxes. The final against Jannik Sinner, considered one of the greatest matches ever, ended with Alcaraz winning after saving three match points.

Carlos Alcaraz Roland Garros French Open 2025
Carlos Alcaraz (image via Roland Garros)

The champion’s prize for Roland Garros this year was €2,550,000. However, Alcaraz will lose a substantial part of that due to tax obligations in both France and Spain. Non-resident players in France are taxed 15%, and as a Spanish citizen, Alcaraz will also be taxed by his home country.

Reports from Spain estimate that his total tax bill could approach €1 million. This figure puts into perspective the actual earnings of top athletes, whose prize money is often reduced significantly by taxation. It also explains why many athletes choose to live in low-tax countries like Monaco.

Alcaraz’s thrilling win has continued to spark reactions throughout the tennis world. Rafael Nadal, the 14-time Roland Garros champion, praised the young Spaniard and acknowledged his rise on clay courts. While the tax hit may sting, Alcaraz’s legacy on the court continues to grow.

Also Read: Emma Raducanu “Happy” to Reclaim British No.1 Position After Soaring into Queen’s Quarter-Finals