Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner meet in a mouthwatering French Open final as the two best players in the world contest for a grand slam title for the first time.
After years of dominance led by Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, the men’s game has entered a new era with Alcaraz, 22, and Sinner, 23, winning the last five grand slam titles between them. In what is their 12th meeting of an electric, burgeoning rivalry, this is the first occasion Alcaraz and Sinner have competed in a major final and it’s unlikely to be the last.
World No 1 Sinner, who defeated Djokovic in a thrilling semi-final, is through to his maiden French Open final and is on a run of 20 consecutive wins at the grand slams. But defending Roland Garros champion Alcaraz has had the upper hand in their recent clashes, winning four in a row, as well as their two previous matches over best-of-five sets.
It’s set to be a blockbuster of a final, which hopefully will not be as affected by the conditions as yesterday’s final between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka. The American Gauff triumphed over three gripping, error-strewn sets to win her first French Open, with World No 1 Sabalenka criticising her own “terrible” performance afterwards.
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French Open LIVE: Latest scores and updates
- Jannik Sinner plays defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in French Open final | From 2pm BST
- Sinner, 23, faces Alcaraz, 22, in first grand slam final as exciting rivalry takes next step
- Sinner has 20 consecutive grand slam wins but Alcaraz has upper hand in match-up
- World No 1 Sinner bids for first Roland Garros title as Alcaraz goes for two in a row in Paris
- Yesterday, Coco Gauff defeated Aryna Sabalenka to win gripping women's final
Coco Gauff dedicates emotional French Open triumph to ‘Americans who look like me’
11:35
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Jamie Braidwood
Coco Gauff dedicated her victory in the French Open final to “people that look like me” in the United States and said she hopes it will bring “hope and light” to those who do not feel supported in the country.
The 21-year-old won her second grand slam title as she battled from behind to win a dramatic three-set final against the World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka, mastering difficult conditions to win her first Roland Garros.
Gauff’s victory came three years after she was thrashed 6-1 6-3 by Iga Swiatek in the 2022 French Open final, a defeat that left an 18-year-old Gauff in tears during the trophy ceremony.
The American was emotional as the national anthem was played on Court Philippe-Chatrier as she lifted the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen for the first time.
Coco Gauff responds to Aryna Sabalenka over ‘not fair’ French Open final claim
11:20
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Jamie Braidwood
Coco Gauff said Aryna Sabalenka’s suggestion that she would have lost the French Open final to Iga Swiatek was not “fair” after the American won her first Roland Garros title by beating the World No 1.
In difficult, windy conditions, Gauff fought from a set down to defeat Sabalenka 6-7 6-2 6-4 and win her second grand slam title on the Paris clay. However, a disgruntled Sabalenka criticised her own performance, in which she made 70 unforced errors, and said “it was the worst final I have ever played”.
Sabalenka added: “Like I think Iga... I think she would go out today and she would get the win. It just hurts. Honestly hurts. I've been playing really well, and then in the last match, go out there and perform like I did, that's hurt.”
How brilliant Coco Gauff tormented Aryna Sabalenka to win a ‘terrible’ French Open final
11:05
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Jamie Braidwood
Yesterday, Coco Gauff stunned World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka to win the French Open with an incredible comeback from a set down to win her second grand slam title.
Gauff had lost a one-sided French Open final to Iga Swiatek three years ago but demonstrated the immense improvements she has made to her game by defeating Sabalenka in another major final, winning 6-7 6-2 6-4 in over two and a half hours.
The World No 2 had won the US Open by beating Sabalenka in 2023, and repeated the trick as she overturned the momentum of the match behind her determined defence to draw errors from an erratic Sabalenka, who has now lost back-to-back grand slam finals this year.
Carlos Alcaraz out of trouble as Lorenzo Musetti retires from French Open semi-final
10:55
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Jamie Braidwood
Carlos Alcaraz returned to the French Open final when Lorenzo Musetti retired injured while trailing 4-6 7-6 (3) 6-0 2-0. The second-set tiebreak was key, with Musetti playing well in the first two sets, before Alcaraz won the final eight games in a row to reach a second successive final.
“At the beginning of the third set, I knew what I had to do,” Alcaraz said. “I’m pushing him to the limit, try to make him run from side to side. In the end, you know, he had to retire, but I think it was a really important moment the beginning of the third set.”
Novak Djokovic sees the end as Jannik Sinner underlines reality of French Open defeat
10:40
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Jamie Braidwood
Jannik Sinner halted Novak Djokovic’s bid of a 25th grand slam title in a gripping three-set win to advance to the French Open final for the first time. Sinner marched into a dominant lead but had to save three set points in the third before winning the match on a tiebreak 6-4 7-5 7-6 (7-3).
It was his fourth consecutive win over Djokovic, who said: “I think mentally he deserved big credit for hanging in there in the tough moments when the whole stadium was cheering. It was set points down, and he managed to find some really good shots. He showed why he's No 1 in the world.”
Historic final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz
10:25
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Jamie Braidwood
Today’s French Open final will also be the first grand slam final played between two men born in the 2000s, as Novak Djokovic, who was beaten in straight sets by the World No 1 Sinner in Friday’s semi-final, left the stage for the young rivals to fill.
“Definitely great for tennis, both of them,” Djokovic said. “I think their rivalry is something that our sport needs, no doubt. I’m sure that we’re going to see them lifting the big trophies quite often.”
By comparison, there has only been one grand slam final played between two men born in the 1990s, which was between Dominic Thiem - who has now retired - and Alexander Zverev at the 2020 US Open five years ago.
Preview: Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz
10:10
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Jamie Braidwood
As Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz now prepare to battle for the French Open title, in their first grand slam final, it is clear that their rivalry has evolved into a generational one. While both players will hope to enjoy the moment of facing each other for one of the sport’s biggest prizes, there is also now much more at stake.
On Sunday, Alcaraz, 22, will bid for his second consecutive Roland Garros title and fifth grand slam.
Sinner, 23, has the chance to win a third consecutive major, as well as a fourth overall and first outside the hard-court tournaments.
When is Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz?
10:05
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Jamie Braidwood
The French Open men’s final will be played from 2pm BST (3pm local time) on Sunday 8 June. Though, by the time the pre-match ceremony is concluded, Sinner and Alcaraz will take to court at around 2:15pm.
French Open order of play - Sunday 8 June
10:02
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Jamie Braidwood
From 10am BST
Women’s doubles final
Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini vs Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic
From 2pm BST
Men’s singles final
[1] Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz [2]
Good morning
10:00
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Jamie Braidwood
Jannik Sinner will play Carlos Alcaraz for the French Open title on Sunday, with the sport’s two young rivals contesting a grand slam final for the first time.
Defending champion Alcaraz, 22, will bid for a second French Open and fifth grand slam but will have to end World No 1 Sinner’s winning streak over five sets.
The 23-year-old Italian, who defeated Novak Djokovic in straight-sets in the semi-finals, has won 20 matches in a row at the grand slams and will search for his third consecutive grand slam title in his first Roland Garros final.
World No 2 Alcaraz has beaten Sinner in their last four matches in a row, including last month’s Italian Open final in Rome. The Spaniard reached the final when Lorenzo Musetti retired injured in the semis.
Between them, Alcaraz and Sinner have won the last five grand slam titles and their first meeting in a major final is unlikely to be the last time they face each other for the sport’s biggest prizes.