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"In the Shadow of Giants": Alcaraz vs Sinner (2025 Final)

Relive the legendary 2025 Roland-Garros final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner and discover exclusive behind-the-scenes footage through the eyes of the tournament’s ball kids in the three-part documentary series "In the Shadow of Giants".

Carlos Alcaraz et les ramasseurs de balles / Finale - Roland-Garros 2025
©André Ferreira / FFT
 - Romain Vinot

Unforgettable, breathtaking, monumental, mythical, epic... The list of superlatives that could be used to describe the longest final ever played at Roland-Garros is virtually endless. More than a year after a match that remains etched in tennis history, we invite you to step back into the drama, tension and beauty of a contest that saw the world's two best players perform at the peak of their powers for five hours and 29 minutes of extraordinary combat.

Part One

Final day at Roland-Garros. In the unique atmosphere that surrounds the biggest match of the fortnight, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner make their way onto Court Philippe-Chatrier in front of a mesmerised audience of celebrities, fans from across the globe and, of course, the ball kids, privileged actors and witnesses to one of the sport's greatest stages.

An integral part of the spectacle, the "Ballos" share their memories and emotions from inside the Parisian arena as Jannik Sinner takes early control of the contest. Despite Alcaraz raising his level and responding impressively in the second set, the Italian, already a three-time Grand Slam champion at the time (Australian Open 2024 and 2025, US Open 2024), edges further ahead and moves within one set of the title.

Part Two

With his back against the wall against his greatest rival, Carlos Alcaraz refuses to surrender. Fist clenched, finger pressed to his ear, the defending champion feeds off an increasingly vocal crowd, finding another gear to claim the third set.

For the two-time Wimbledon champion, everything suddenly seems possible again. The ball kids, however, struggle to believe in a comeback when he faces three championship points on serve at 3-5. Yet after three hours and 50 minutes of relentless battle, the ground beneath Porte d'Auteuil was far from done shaking...

Part Three

Delicate drop shots follow thunderous groundstrokes as one extraordinary rally succeeds another, setting court Philippe-Chatrier alight. Fully aware that it is witnessing a piece of tennis history, the crowd roars with every exchange.

Unaffected by either pressure or fatigue, the two giants trade blows until the very end. Despite being broken early in the deciding set, the world No.1 battles back to level at 5-5 after the world No.2, has served for a second Coupe des Mousquetaires more than five hours into an uncompromising duel.

With reason seemingly abandoned and pure sporting drama taking over, it feels only fitting that such an extraordinary encounter should be decided by a super tie-break. Dominant when it mattered most, Carlos Alcaraz brings his masterpiece to a close with a sublime forehand passing shot struck down the line. The Spaniard earns the right to collapse onto the clay of his Parisian garden for a second consecutive year, victorious after an astonishing 5 hours and 29 minutes battle (4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2)). Majestic.