'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAFAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAb/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAv/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAk4Uo/8QAHxAAAgICAQUAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIEBQARAyIxMlFS/9oACAEBAAE/ALxq6HU87Cv20dnQFeQDfdfn31DFEV1DGKNsN+Wf/8QAFxEBAAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQACMv/aAAgBAgEBPwC+kn//xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhAAL/2gAIAQMBAT8Ayt//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Carlos Alcaraz wasted no time kicking the celebrations off for his historic French Open triumph against Jannik Sinner to successfully defend his title. The Spaniard and the Italian clashed in a match for the ages, which ended up with the former completing a stunning comeback to hand his rival a crushing defeat.
All eyes were on Alcaraz and Sinner on 8 June, when they faced each other in their maiden Grand Slam final battle. Though the Italian took a massive two-set lead in the match and even held three championship points in the fourth set, the Spaniard displayed unparalleled resistance to turn the match in his favor and win 4-6, (4)6-7, 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2) after five hours and 30 minutes of riveting tennis.
While the World No. 1 was absolutely gutted following his defeat by the narrowest of margins, celebrations ensued for the World No. 2, who got his hands on a fifth Grand Slam title. Alcaraz, for a second consecutive year, kicked off his partying at the popular Italian restaurant Siena, which is in the heart of Paris. The Spaniard was seen singing and dancing with everyone, with the replica of La Coupe des Mousquetaires in his hand.
Trending
Many, including his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, didn't believe that the Spaniard would be able to return from a 3-5, 0-40 deficit in the fourth set. It is worth noting that Carlos Alcaraz had never turned around a two-set deficit in his career before this match.
"I'm not going to say that I was believing that he was able to recover from that 5-3, Love-40. But one more time with Carlos, everything is possible, and he did it again. Amazing achievement," Ferrero said.
However, Alcaraz never lost faith in himself.
"Today was all about belief in myself" - Carlos Alcaraz gives a look into his mindset during the French Open final
During the post-match press conference, Carlos Alcaraz said that he never lost faith in himself and told himself to be bold and not care about the results, which he felt was the reason why he managed to stage the comeback.
"I told myself that in specific moments, I had to go for it. No matter what. No matter if I was down. No matter if I lose the 5th. I just thought it was time to go for it. not be afraid of mistakes... Today was all about belief in myself. I never doubted myself today..That's why I saw my best tennis in difficult situations."
The French Open final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner is the second-longest Grand Slam final at five hours and 29 minutes, only behind the 2012 Australian Open final between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, which lasted five hours and 53 minutes.
