Roger Federer sends unique message after Carlos Alcaraz & Jannik Sinner treat fans to epic French Open final

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner put together a titanic battle in the men's summit clash of the French Open on Sunday (June 8), going at each other for five hours and 29 minutes. Following their bout, Roger Federer expressed delight at watching the two players while also celebrating what it meant for tennis.

Sinner started his 12th career encounter against defending champion Alcaraz in ideal fashion, playing lights-out tennis in the first two hours to take a two-sets-to-love lead. Unfortunately, the Italian witnessed a mammoth comeback from his Spanish opponent in the next two sets, which included him missing three match points at 5-3 up in the fourth set.

In the end, Carlos Alcaraz coming up with heroics on those three points proved pivotal. The 22-year-old took the fourth set and ultimately the deciding set in tiebreakers to eventually come through 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2) to secure his fifth Major title. Roger Federer, who himself contested five finals in Paris and won his lone title on the famed terre battue in 2009, was ecstatic at both players' display, taking to his Instagram stories later on Sunday to post a rather unique message.

The Swiss maestro shared a collage of him posing with Sinner and Alcaraz, respectively, in their teenage years. In the caption, he wrote:

"3 winners in Paris today: @carlitosalcarazz @janniksin & the beautiful game of tennis. What a match!"

Via Roger Federer Instagram stories

Unfortunately, Federer didn't have a chance to play either Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner, as he retired at the 2022 Laver Cup before the two had announced themselves at the top of the men's tennis world.

---

Carlos Alcaraz wins five-set final at French Open for the second year in a row

Carlos Alcaraz has won the last two editions of the French Open in emphatic fashion | Image Source: Getty

Carlos Alcaraz, meanwhile, can take pride in his achievement at Roland Garros, having won back-to-back five-set finals in Paris over the last two years. In 2024, the Spaniard reversed a two-sets-to-one deficit against Alexander Zverev before scripting a 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 victory in four hours and 19 minutes to nab his third career Major title.

As far as his latest five-set escape is concerned, Alcaraz has now won two Major titles after saving match points. Coincidentally, the then-teenager had staved off a match point against Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals of the 2022 US Open before winning his maiden Major title in New York two matches later.

Edited by Pritha Ghosh