Alcaraz and Sinner to Face Off in Champions Final in Paris

It is the most repeated statistic in recent hours. Carlos Alcaraz could win his fifth Grand Slam this Sunday at the same age, 22 years, one month, and three days, as Rafael Nadal achieved the same feat. While the Spaniard did it at Wimbledon 2008, in the famous final against Roger Federer considered the best match of all time, Alcaraz could achieve it in Paris, just a few meters from the plaque honouring the fourteen-time tournament champion.

It is one of those 50% finals, where the favouritism is completely split between Sinner, the world number one with a streak of twenty consecutive Grand Slam victories - not losing since the Wimbledon 2024 quarter-finals - and Alcaraz, the best clay court player currently and the reigning tournament champion.

Their paths have been quite different. Sinner has exerted minimal effort and hasn't lost a single set in the six matches he has played so far; Alcaraz, on the other hand, has dropped sets to Fabian Marozsan, Damir Dzumhur, Ben Shelton, and Lorenzo Musetti. The Spaniard has spent 13 hours and 37 minutes on court compared to the Italian's 11 hours and 51 minutes.

Even so, despite this imbalance, the physical aspect does not seem to be a problem. "I feel great, but we still have the last step," admitted Alcaraz before what will be the twelfth duel against Sinner, the first in a Grand Slam final. Their only two previous encounters in a title match were in Umag 2022, with a win for the Italian, and in Beijing 2024, with a victory for the Spaniard. The rest of the matches were decided in early rounds, quarter-finals, and semi-finals, as in the last five matches. Alcaraz has proven to be Sinner's kryptonite, defeating him the last four times they met, in Indian Wells 2024, Roland Garros 2024, Beijing 2024, and Rome, just two weeks ago.

That match at the Foro Italico exposed Sinner's shortcomings in competing in tight matches that pushed him to his physical limits, which is understandable after three months off due to a suspension agreed upon for a double doping positive last year. Back on the circuit, with his ranking intact and without missing any Grand Slam, the Italian reached that final in Rome and in Paris aims for a third Major after the US Open 2024 and the Australian Open in 2024 and 2025.

Like Alcaraz, he does not know what it is to lose a final of this kind. In fact, he won the last two without dropping a set against Taylor Fritz in New York and Alexander Zverev in Melbourne. Alcaraz has also been perfect in finals, boasting the US Open in 2022, Wimbledon in 2023 and 2024, and Roland Garros in 2024.

"Playing against Alcaraz is fun and not at the same time. We try to push each other to the limit in the best possible way. It is sure to be a beautiful match to watch and play. There is nothing bigger than this. A Grand Slam final against Alcaraz. It is a very special moment for both of us," stated the Italian.

The ranking is not at stake because, regardless of the outcome, Sinner will be number one when Paris ends. In fact, he will remain so until at least Wimbledon, as the Italian has gained 500 points for improving on last year's semi-finals, while Alcaraz has no room for improvement here or at Wimbledon. From now until August, the Spaniard can only gain points at Queen's, where last year he only managed to win one match. The champion this Sunday will also take home 2.55 million euros.