Carlos and Jannik are almost completely opposite personalities and this rivalry isn’t just built on hype, social media or flashy shots, but on grit, contrast, endurance, personality and a hunger from both to claim the title of ‘king’
Italy’s Jannik Sinner congratulates Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz after the French Open final on Sunday. Pic/Getty Images
If there were any lingering doubts about tennis lacking compelling rivalries in the post-Federer, Nadal and Djokovic era, the 2025 Roland Garros final has put those firmly to rest.
The Sinner vs Alcaraz storyline was always promising to take over the mantle left by the Big Three and they used the Roland Garros final to make it their ‘coming-of-age’ party. Five hours and 29 minutes — the longest final in Roland Garros history — and many other records were shattered on Sunday night when the No. 1 and No. 2 locked horns. And who knows what might have happened if the 5th set ‘super tiebreak’ did not exist.
Fire and ice battle
As with all great rivalries, this one too has almost completely opposite personalities. Alcaraz is all fire and brimstone, a no holds barred sometimes ‘in your face’ personality. Sinner is the calm, composed, a tactical kind of player and personality. It was the first time these two were facing off in a Grand Slam final. In such high-stakes matches, even the best sometimes fall short of playing their finest tennis.
In Paris, the first set was topsy-turvy with errors from both sides, but after that, it was shotmaking at its finest. They covered every inch of the court, worked every angle, explored every nook and corner and demonstrated the kind of complete, all-court tennis that even Rafa and Novak didn’t have in their formative years.
Eventually, the match turned into a slugfest where both players not only lived up to the occasion — they elevated it with their sheer physical prowess. I felt like I needed an ice bath after just watching it!
One aspect that has really caught my eye is the mental and physical evolution of both players. Alcaraz burst onto the scene as a muscular and very physical specimen. While exciting to watch, these problems can sometimes curtail the careers of even the most talented players.
At this very venue a couple of years ago, we saw Alcaraz cramp, falter and have a physical breakdown against Djokovic. Since then, his transformation has been remarkable. He now looks much leaner and fitter, which in turn has helped him become more efficient in his movement and agility — making him the favourite in longer matches. His five-set record now stands at a staggering 13–1 and he is slowly acquiring the reputation of his idol, a certain Rafael Nadal, who fought for every point as if it were his last.
Sinner, on the other hand, has a less flattering statistic to contend with — 0-7 in matches that have gone beyond four sets. For a player of his calibre, this is one number he will be thinking about and will need to work on as well.
Great pace, depth and variety
These aren’t things you can learn in a gym or with a psychologist, but they come with the experience of being ‘in the trenches’ again and again. At a technical level, even with his wiry frame, his groundstrokes explode off the back of the court and his serve has pace, depth and variety. One wonders how much more power he will pack in his strokes if he bulks up and puts on a few more pounds of muscle.
This rivalry isn’t just built on hype, social media or flashy shots, but on grit, contrast, endurance, personality and a hunger from both to claim the title of the ‘king’.
As a former player, I was riveted. As a fan and follower of the game, I’m excited at what the future holds. Tennis, it seems, is in good hands!
Tennis stalwart Gaurav Natekar is an Arjuna awardee who won 2 gold medals at the 1994 Asian Games
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