Alcaraz hails ‘real champion’ mindset after epic French Open win over Sinner
Reigning champion saved three match points in fourth set to complete historic comeback
Carlos Alcaraz said “real champions” are made in tough situations after the Spaniard saved three championship points and fought from two sets down to beat Jannik Sinner in the French Open final on Sunday.
Reigning champion Alcaraz looked set to relinquish his Roland Garros title when he fell 5-3 behind in the fourth set, but the 22-year-old instead pulled off one of the greatest escape acts in grand slam history.
Alcaraz held off three match points from 0-40 on his serve to outlast world No 1 Sinner in a thriller, winning 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 after five hours and 29 minutes.
“When the situations are against you, you have to fight, keep fighting,” said Alcaraz, who had never before won a match from a two-set deficit. “I mean, it is a grand slam final.
“It’s no time to be tired. It’s no time to give up. It’s time to keep fighting, trying to find your moment, your good place again, and just go for it.
“I think the real champions are made in those situations when you deal with that pressure. I mean, that’s what the real champions have done in their whole careers.”