Former Wimbledon Champion Reveals Jannik Sinner’s Class Act Following Heartbreaking Roland Garros Defeat to Carlos Alcaraz
Jannik Sinner had three championship points against Carlos Alcaraz in the Roland Garros final.
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Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz (Image via X/Univers Tennis)
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Losing a Grand Slam final after nearly six hours of intense battle is a heartbreak few tennis players endure. Most would be shattered after squandering a match point following such an epic struggle, yet Jannik Sinner appears wired differently, according to Marion Bartoli.
According to the 2013 Wimbledon champion, Sinner’s reaction to his devastating 2025 French Open loss against Carlos Alcaraz wasn’t just professional; it was shockingly nice. Bartoli said to BBC:
He made the effort to stand up, came towards me and I was like, ‘Is he really coming towards me?’ He came towards me and obviously I stood up in front of him and he was like, ‘Oh man! It was really nice for your interview for 15 days. I can’t wait to see you at Wimbledon.’ And I was in a state of shock that after almost six hours of play on the court, he still remembers who I am and makes the effort to stand up and come on the court.
Bartoli, who has enjoyed most of her success at Wimbledon, believes that she wouldn’t have reacted the same way as Sinner. The Italian star rebounded unbelievably from that defeat to gain revenge on Alcaraz at SW19 a month later. She added:
I would have broken everything that’s possible to break in the locker room if I would have lost a Grand Slam final at home after having three match points. And I would have definitely not made the effort to go around and wave goodbye to someone working at broadcasting.
It was the kind of loss that keeps players awake at night for years to come. Sinner was World No. 1 at the time, and to have the title that close only to see it slip away is gut-wrenching. Most players would have stormed off, given a curt wave to the crowd, and ghosted the media.
Why this Sinner vs. Alcaraz rivalry is different?
It’s easy to get caught up in the stats—the forehand speeds, the ace counts, the unforced errors. But what makes the Jannik Sinner vs. Carlos Alcaraz rivalry feel special isn’t just the tennis; it’s the players themselves. About the same, Bartoli said:
I’m sure we’re going to talk about it next, but the level of integrity, of respect, of dignity those two are capable of showing in the toughest moments is absolutely extraordinary for me. And I was absolutely not at their level and they are a true example, even for myself nowadays.
Marion Bartoli pointed out that despite being much younger than her, these two are setting a standard for behavior that puts many veterans to shame.
This composure marks a welcome shift in a sport often defined by emotional outbursts and on court disputes. Sinner and Alcaraz later met in the finals of Wimbledon, the US Open, and the ATP Finals that year, with Sinner claiming victory at Wimbledon and the ATP Finals while Alcaraz prevailed at the US Open. Amid the intense rivalry, their mutual respect stands out as the defining story.
So, while losing might still sting, Sinner proved that a player can lose a match without losing their cool. Though, for the record, if it were any other player, that locker room would still need some serious repairs.
Carlos Alcaraz seeks history at the Australian Open
Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz has already achieved a lot in his young career. However, a title run at the Australian Open is missing from his incredible CV.
He will attempt to achieve that milestone at the start of 2026. By doing that, he will become the fifth male player in the Open Era to achieve the Career Grand Slam. He will also be the youngest to get to that milestone.
For now, Rafael Nadal is the youngest player to achieve the Career Grand Slam at 24. The elder Spaniard achieved that in 2010 by winning the US Open.
However, standing in his way is Jannik Sinner, who has won the last two Australian Open titles. Also, the Australian Open remains the only Grand Slam where the duo haven’t played each other.
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