Grand Slam finals carry an unmistakable aura. When a Slam final stretches right into a five-setter, it signifies an enthralling contest between evenly matched rivals. Add a number of tie-breakers into the combine, and the sense of parity intensifies, turning the match into an absorbing duel between superior equals. These epic battles change into historic.
No fan can neglect two such memorable males’s tennis finals from the latest previous. The longest Grand Slam final ever in the Open Era — a gruelling 5-hour, 53-minute battle between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal at the 2012 Australian Open — stays unmatched to this present day. Djokers’ celebration, throughout which he tore off his shirt, stays etched in each tennis fan’s reminiscence. Equally unforgettable is the reminiscence of each the gamers, their legs trembling, at the trophy presentation, till somebody introduced them chairs.
The 2019 Wimbledon final between Djokovic and Roger Federer stood out for various causes. Lasting 4 hours and 57 minutes, it grew to become the first Slam final to characteristic three tie-breaks in the Open Era. The sight of Djokovic squatting on Centre Court and consuming grass in triumph signalled not simply victory, but in addition a poignant finish to Federer’s legendary pursuit.
Sunday’s showdown at Roland Garros between World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and World No 2 Carlos Alcaraz has earned its place among the biggest Slam finals. Lasting 5 hours and 29 minutes, it is the second-longest Grand Slam final in the Open Era.
The chart reveals the size in minutes for 122 Grand Slam Finals (information from 1991 to 2025). Each circle corresponds to a final. The larger the dots, the longer the finals. Interestingly, in recent times, matches have been comparatively longer.
The gripping encounter additionally featured three tie-break units — solely the second time in Open Era Grand Slam finals. However, the variety of tie-breaks needs to be considered with warning, as guidelines have assorted throughout years and Grand Slams.
The chart on the left reveals the variety of finals that featured three/two/ one/zero tie-break units and the chart on the proper reveals the variety of finals that featured 5/4/three units in the Open Era.
What really stood out on Sunday was Alcaraz’s extraordinary comeback from being two units down. To underscore simply how uncommon this feat is: Sinner had solely as soon as earlier than misplaced a match after profitable the first two units since 2021; that was in opposition to Djokovic at Wimbledon 2022. Indeed, in the Open Era, the variety of instances a participant who was two units behind after which went on to change into the champion in a Grand Slam final is solely eight.
The desk reveals eight different Grand Slam finals in the Open Era wherein a participant misplaced the first two units, however ultimately received.
Incredibly, the most latest incidence earlier than this was by Sinner himself, who fought again to win the 2024 Australian Open after trailing Daniil Medvedev by two units. Medvedev, sadly, has skilled this twice — beforehand it was in 2022, in opposition to Nadal, in the Australian Open final.
On three defining measures — a marathon encounter, a number of tie-break drama, and an unforgettable comeback — the newest Roland Garros final emphatically earns its place among the biggest championship matches ever performed.
The desk reveals the 12 finals that Jannik Sinner reached since 2024, with the winners and losers talked about.
With 38-year-old Djokovic’s final Slam win occurring in 2023, and Nadal and Federer now retired, tennis followers are eagerly turning their gaze in direction of Sinner and Alcaraz — the rising rivals nonetheless of their 20s. Since 2024, Sinner has dominated the tour, profitable 91 out of 99 matches (a 92% win charge), whereas Alcaraz, throughout the identical interval, has managed to win 91 out of 109 matches (a win charge comparatively decrease at 83%).
Yet there’s a twist. Since 2024, Alcaraz and Sinner have confronted off 5 instances — together with three finals — and every time the Spaniard has emerged victorious. Sinner reached 12 finals on this interval, profitable all 9 wherein his opponent wasn’t Alcaraz (Table 4). While few have managed to unravel the Sinner puzzle, Alcaraz, regardless of faltering in opposition to others, has maintained a flawless document in opposition to the Italian in the final 18 months.
The information for the charts had been sourced from Tennis Abstract
vignesh.r@thehindu.co.in
Published – June 12, 2025 07:00 am IST
