Sinner pride and pain in Parisian record breaker

In fact, since the start of the Cincinnati Masters in mid-August 2024, the Italian had compiled a 47-2 match tally.

The only two blemishes on that impressive record came at the hands of his fellow young gun Carlos Alcaraz. Make that three now.

What unfolded on Sunday was nothing short of miraculous. Reigning champion Alcaraz somehow prevailed 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(10-2) to extend his head-to-head lead over the Italian to 8-4, now claiming victory in their past five encounters.

Borg vs McEnroe, Sampras vs Agassi, the ‘Big Four’ titans, this is a rivalry already pushing towards those legendary heights.

“I think every rivalry is different, no? Back in the days, they played a little bit different tennis. Now, the ball is going fast. It's very physical. It's slightly different from my point of view,” Sinner said.

“I was lucky enough to play against Novak (Djokovic), against Rafa (Nadal). In Grand Slams Roger (Federer) I never played, unfortunately. Beating these guys, it takes a lot. I have the same feeling with Carlos and some other players.

“It's good to see that we can also produce tennis like this because I think it's good for the whole movement of tennis and the crowd.

“I'm happy to be part of this. Would be even more happy if I would have here the big trophy. But you can't change it now.”

The top seed bemoaned missing a multitude of chances in what became the longest final in the history of Roland-Garros at an energy-zapping five hours and 29 minutes.

Sinner was a break up in the third set and crucially had three match points erased at 5-3 in the fourth set.

The Italian, competing in his first Roland-Garros final, conjured up enough energy and perseverance in the decider to reel in the world No.2 from 1-3 down and prevented Alcaraz from serving out the title at 5-4. This modern-day classic came down to the wire.

“Of course, happy to deliver this kind of level. Happy about the tournament still. But obviously this one hurts,” the 23-year-old admitted.

“I think it was a very, very high-level match, was long. It happens, we saw it in the past with other players, and today it happened to me.

“So, we try to delete it somehow and take the positive and keep going. There are no other ways.”

It’s time for the Sinner camp to pick up their world-leading charge as he seeks the positives from a standout fortnight in Paris.

“My family, the people who know me, now they are helping me. It's giving at times, and sometimes you take something. And now it's my time to take something from the close people I have.

“We are just a very simple family. My dad was not here because he was working today (chef in a local restaurant). Nothing of our success changes in the family,” Sinner continued.

“It was nice to see my mom here. I guess my dad, he was watching on TV - if he finished work. It's okay.

“Before my career started, I never would have thought to find myself in this position. Was not even a dream because it was so far and was not thinking about this.

“Now I find myself here, playing the longest match in history of Roland-Garros in a final. It hurts this yes, but in other way you cannot keep going crying, you know... So it happens.”

‘The Fox’ can look to respond in style on the pristine lawns of Wimbledon later this month. Perhaps it will be Sinner vs Alcaraz in the final on Centre Court?

It takes two to make a final legendary and Sinner more than played his part in Paris.

“If you watch only the sad part, you're never going to come back,” said the world No.1. “I believe I have improved as a player since last year, which is good. So we try to keep pushing.”