Alcaraz And Sinner's Roland Garros Final Most Watched In 14 Years

The exceptional viewing figures for Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner's 2025 Roland Garros final in France provided further evidence of their importance to the sport's future.

Many have called their epic battle the greatest Roland Garros final ever played. The two left those watching astonished by producing exceptional tennis for five hours and 29 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Sinner had three championship points on Alcaraz's serve at 5-3, but the Spaniard staged an unthinkable comeback from that position to triumph 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 after one of the greatest matches ever.

For a few years, fears existed about who would step up to fill the void left by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. Although the Serbian continues to play at a high level, it is unknown when he will retire.

Alcaraz and Sinner have surely alleviated any remaining fears after their incredible tussle in Paris. The number of people who watched in France demonstrates how the pair's rivalry has captured the public's imaginations.

An average of 5,500,000 viewed the final, reaching a peak of 9,300,000. That makes it the most-watched Roland Garros final in France since Nadal and Federer battled for the title in 2011.

Alcaraz and Sinner attracting higher numbers than the previous 13 finals from 2012 until 2024 is incredible, considering the great names that played during that time. Nadal won eight titles in that period.

Novak Djokovic won three times, and Stan Wawrinka secured the other title during that period in 2015. Djokovic was the runner-up to Nadal in 2012, 2014, and 2020, and their rivalry is one of the greatest in sports history.

More fans wanting to watch Alcaraz and Sinner play than all the finals between Djokovic and Nadal, considered by many to be the two greatest players ever, is remarkable and bodes terrifically for tennis.

What's scary for their rivals is that the pair could get even better. Sinner is 23, and Alcaraz is 22, and none of Djokovic, Nadal, or Federer were at their peaks at that age. In the modern game, players also tend to reach their best at older ages.

The classiness of Alcaraz and Sinner's conduct also resonates with fans alongside the quality of their tennis. There was no gamesmanship from either man despite the length of the contest and the importance of the occasion.

Neither player left the court between sets. Many undoubtedly expected Sinner to go to the locker room after the fourth set that he lost so dramatically, but the Italian wanted to keep playing.

There were no medical timeouts taken. A minority of players have exploited the rule allowing them to take medical timeouts by feigning injuries and using it as an opportunity to disrupt their opponent's rhythm.

Sinnet and Alcaraz also conceded points to their opponent when a line call was incorrect, including at critical moments of sets. They are terrific examples to young players of how champions should act, including in the most important matches.