Roland Garros 2024: Carlos Alcaraz creates tennis history after ending Jannik Sinner’s winning streak

Carlos Alcaraz booked a place in the 2024 Roland Garros final after eliminating Jannik Sinner in five sets as it ended 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 after over four hours on Court Philippe-Chatrier. 

The Spaniard trailed in the match heading into the fourth set but claimed the final two sets to make his first French Open final.

While Alcaraz set several records after Friday’s semi-final success over the Italian, who replaces Novak Djokovic as World No. 1 next Monday, eliminating the No. 2 seed sees the 21-year-old become the youngest player to make Grand Slam finals on all three surfaces . 

Alcaraz made it to the 2022 US Open final at 19, progressed to last year's Wimbledon at 20 and has advanced to the 2024 French Open decider at 21.

"You have to find the joy suffering," Alcaraz said after beating Sinner "That is the key, even more here on clay at Roland Garros. Long rallies, four-hour matches, five sets. You have to fight, you have to suffer but as I told my team, you have to enjoy suffering."

Despite winning fewer points than Sinner — 145-147 — the Spaniard defeated his friend and on-court rival to take the lead in their head-to-head, edging ahead 5-4.

Strikingly, Alcaraz also ended the Italian’s undefeated streak at Grand Slams in 2024, with Sinner claiming the 2024 Australian Open and was on a 12-0 run in this year’s Majors. 

The Spaniard also defeated the No. 2 seed for the first time this year, triumphing in three sets in the semi-finals at Indian Wells in March. 

Alcaraz will take on Casper Ruud or Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s final, as he seeks a third Grand Slam on Sunday and a first at Roland Garros.