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Qatar Tribune
09-06-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Alcaraz-Sinner rivalry amazing for tennis: Coach Ferrero
PA Media/DPA Paris Carlos Alcaraz's coach Juan Carlos Ferrero believes the Spaniard's rivalry with Jannik Sinner will lift the sport to new heights. Alcaraz and Sinner, the world's top two players, contested their first Grand Slam final at the French Open - and it was an all-time classic. Second seed Alcaraz came out on top after a five-hour, 29-minute marathon, the 22-year-old saving three championship points in the fourth set and winning after a tie-break in the fifth. It was Alcaraz's second Roland Garros title, his fifth at Grand Slams, and means he and Italian world number one Sinner have shared the last six majors. Anyone who feared men's tennis would struggle to fill the void left by the retirements of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and - in the not-too-distant future - Novak Djokovic, can rest easy. 'For the sport it's something amazing to have these players after Roger and Rafa - and Novak is still playing, of course - but this kind of rivalry that they have,' said former world number one Ferrero. 'Having these two guys fighting for big trophies, I think we have to be very happy about it in the sport of tennis. 'For them, for sure it's something that they raise their level every time that they go on the court. 'They know they have to play unbelievable tennis to beat the other guy and it's something that is going to help for sure each player to raise the level even more.' Curiously, Alcaraz won major title number five at exactly the same age as his idol Nadal was when he won his fifth, in 2008 at Wimbledon; 22 years, one month and three days. Nadal, of course, went on to collect 22 grand slam crowns including 14 at Roland Garros, and was honoured at this year's tournament following his retirement. The coincidence was not lost on Ferrero, although he was keen to avoid too many comparisons between his fellow Spaniards. 'I think it's amazing,' added Ferrero. 'The same grand slams at the same age at the same day, it's something that looks unreal. 'It's something very curious. But we don't think too much about it.
Qatar Tribune
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Gauff was the better player: Sabalenka backtracks on final comments
PA Media/DPA Paris Aryna Sabalenka has admitted Coco Gauff fully deserved to beat her in the French Open final, having been a less than gracious loser on Saturday evening. The world number one dished up a portion of sour grapes in her press conference following Gauff's dramatic three-set win, complaining that the ball kept coming off the frame of the 21-year-old's American's racket. She added: 'I think she won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes.' But Sabalenka, 27, has now rowed back on her comments in a post on Instagram. She wrote: 'Yesterday was a tough one. Coco handled the conditions much better than I did and fully deserved the win. 'She was the better player yesterday, and I want to give her the credit she earned. 'You all know me. I'm always going to be honest and human in how I process these moments. I made over 70 unforced errors, so I can't pretend it was a great day for me. 'But both things can be true. I didn't play my best, and Coco stepped up and played with poise and purpose. She earned that title. Respect.' Meanwhile Gauff said she wants her French Open victory to give hope to 'Americans that look like me'. The 21-year-old, now a two-time grand slam champion, says she wants to bring 'hope and light' to black Americans who feel under-represented. 'It means a lot and obviously there's a lot going on in our country right now,' she said. 'But just to be able to be a representation of that and a representation of, I guess, people that look like me in America who maybe don't feel as supported during this time period, and so just being that reflection of hope and light for those people.' Gauff won the WTA Finals in Riyadh in November, days after the re-election of US President Donald Trump. 'I remember after the election and everything, it kind of felt (a) down period a little bit,' she added. 'My mum told me during Riyadh, 'Just try to win the tournament just to give something for people to smile for'. 'So that's what I was thinking about today when holding that (trophy). 'And then seeing the flags in the crowd means a lot. You know, some people may feel some type of way about being patriotic and things like that.
Qatar Tribune
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Alcaraz defends French Open title with sensational win over Sinner
PA Media/DPA Paris Carlos Alcaraz came from two sets down and saved three match points to overcome Jannik Sinner and defend his French Open title on Sunday in the longest final in Roland Garros history. The Spaniard showed incredible reserves of energy and willpower to win a five-hour 29-minute marathon, 4-6, 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (10-2), and deny world number one Sinner a third consecutive grand slam title. Instead Alcaraz claimed his fifth major crown at exactly the same age as his idol Rafael Nadal did, aged 22 years, one month and three days old. It was his fifth victory from his fifth final, which was the first at one of the slams to be played between two players born this century. 'I just want to say thank you for everything to my team and family;' said Alcaraz. 'I have the privilege to be able to live great things with you. I was lucky to have a lot of people who came from Murcia, from home, to support me. It is just amazing support you gave me today, during the whole two weeks. The people who weren't able to come but are at home. Thank you very much and this trophy is yours as well, so thank you.' Alcaraz collapsed to the ground following his astonishing victory before he embraced Sinner, showing the mutual respect the pair has for each other. The 22-year-old now holds a remarkable 13-1 fifth-set record. In stark contrast, Sinner fell to 6-10 in fifth sets and remains winless in matches extending beyond three hours and 50 minutes (0–7). 'First of all, Carlos, congrats. An amazing performance, an amazing battle, amazing everything,' said Sinner at the trophy ceremony. 'To you and your team, amazing job. I'm very happy for you and you deserve it. 'It's easier to play than talk now. Obviously, to my team. Thank you so much for [helping to put] myself in this position. We tried our best today, gave everything we had. Some time ago, we would have signed to be here, so still an amazing tournament even though it's very difficult for now.' It was also the first Grand Slam final meeting of the two young superstars of men's tennis, the best players on the planet, who have now shared the last six major titles. And it is one that will go down as a cast-iron Roland Garros classic, a final for the ages, a high-quality and heavy-hitting marathon. Italian Sinner, on a 20-match winning streak at the slams, looked certain to add the Paris title to his US and Australian Open crowns when he forged two sets ahead. He had lost his previous four matches against Alcaraz - the most recent in the Rome final last month, his first tournament after serving a three-month doping ban. But the 23-year-old has been almost untouchable in the French capital, dropping no set and his serve only three times before the final and saving 19 of the 22 break points he had faced. Some loose hitting from Alcaraz gave Sinner a break in the first game of the third, but perhaps being short of matches after his enforced absence was beginning to tell as last year's winner clawed back the deficit to force a fourth. That ended a run of 31 consecutive sets won by Sinner at grand slam tournaments, stretching back to the Australian Open fourth round. With both players now playing at close to their top levels, it was Sinner who made the first move in the fourth set, breaking to love to lead 4-3. Second seed Alcaraz, scrambling to cling on to his title, then somehow saved three championship points on his own serve at 5-3, before incredibly digging even deeper to break back. In the tie-break Sinner edged two points ahead but then started missing, while Alcaraz fired down back-to-back aces on his way to levelling the match. Sinner had never before won a match lasting longer than four hours - mainly because he has never really had to - but he was guzzling the pickle juice at the changeover to try and find more energy. But Alcaraz, having clinched an early break, served for the match only for Sinner to somehow chase down an outrageous drop shot to level again. A 10-point tie-break was needed to separate them, an early-evening shoot-out to decide the champion, and by now Alcaraz had his eye in. A glorious winner, a drop-shot and volley and some wayward shots from Sinner helped him race ahead 7-0, and a final, spectacular forehand winner sealed an unbelievable victory.
Qatar Tribune
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Will address problem of empty seats: Mauresmo
PA Media/DPA Paris French Open tournament director Amelie Mauresmo will address the problem of empty seats for early matches ahead of next year's Roland Garros. Women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka and Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng played out one of the biggest match-ups of the tournament in the quarter-finals. But with the match beginning at 11am, the vast Court Philippe-Chatrier was almost deserted, with many of the French spectators having lunch instead. Mauresmo said: 'We are aware of this, and we will definitely work on the solutions that we can find for the future. 'In two weeks we have our debrief all together and definitely talk about these subjects and see how we can make it work better.' The lack of women's matches in the prime-time night sessions remains a hot topic but Mauresmo once again stressed that is purely down to men's best-of-five set matches being longer, ensuring value for money for ticket holders. 'I think we wouldn't be having this conversation if we would have the same format for both games, because in my opinion it's the length or the possible length of the match that is making it hard for us in terms of scheduling,' she added.' The French Open remains the last of the four grand slams to still use line judges rather than electric line calling, which is currently considered not reliable on clay. Former Wimbledon champion Mauresmo said the standard of line judging was good at the tournament. 'Generally speaking, we had a very high level and this is a very great satisfaction for us, because, as you know, we are the last of the Mohicans to some extent with the line judges,' she said.
Qatar Tribune
07-06-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Djokovic says semis loss ‘could have been last match' at French Open
PAMedia/DPA Paris Novak Djokovic admitted his French Open semi-final defeat by Jannik Sinner could be his last match at Roland Garros. The 38-year-old came up short in his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title in a 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) loss to the world number one. Afterwards he paused to wave goodbye to an appreciative crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier, where he won the title three times. He said: 'It was just a great sense of gratitude for the kind of support that I received tonight. It was incredible. 'I don't think I have ever received this much support in this stadium in my career in big matches against the best players in the world. So I'm very, very honoured to experience that, obviously. 'I mean, this could have been the last match ever I played here, so I don't know. That's why I was a bit more emotional even in the end. 'But if this was the farewell match at Roland Garros for me in my career, it was a wonderful one in terms of the atmosphere and what I got from the crowd.' Asked how long he has been pondering whether this may have been one final au revoir to Paris, the Serbian said: 'Not long. 'You know, I don't know. I don't know really what tomorrow brings in a way at this point in my career. You know, I'm going to keep on keeping on, yes? 'Obviously Wimbledon is next, which is my childhood favourite tournament. I'm going to do everything possible to get myself ready. 'I guess my best chances maybe are Wimbledon, you know, to win another slam - or a faster hard court, maybe Australia or something like that. 'I said it could have been my last match. I didn't say it was. So I don't know right now - 12 months at this point in my career is quite a long time. 'Do I wish to play more? Yes, I do. But will I be able to play in 12 months' time here again? I don't know. I don't know. 'So, yeah, I mean, that's all I can say for the moment.' Sinner, who will face second seed and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday - their first meeting in a Grand Slam final - paid tribute to Djokovic. 'I think we saw that the match was a very tough match for both of us,' he said. 'I tried to stay there, you know, mentally trying to play every point in the right way with the good intensity. 'I'm very, very happy. It's amazing to see him still playing this kind of level he produces and the physical shape he's in, it's amazing. 'So that was a very, very tough match, but I'm very happy to be in the final here.'
