Carlos Alcaraz matches Pete Sampras' Grand Slam best-of-5 record after French Open SF comeback against Jannik Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz's victory over Jannik Sinner in the semifinals of the 2024 French Open on Friday, June 7, marked his 10th win in 11 five-setters at the Grand Slam events. He equaled Pete Sampras, Mats Wilander, Harold Solomon, and Ross Case for the record.

Alcaraz fell behind Sinner early in the match as he lost the opening set cheaply. He leveled the proceedings by clinching the second set but the Italian had his nose in front again as he secured the third by overcoming the cramps.

The fourth and fifth sets witnessed disciplined tennis of the highest degree as there were only two breaks of serve by Alcaraz. Sinner hung tough but the Spaniard eventually came out on top after four hours and 12 minutes to close the match at 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

This was notably the 11th match for Alcaraz that went to the fifth set at the Majors and the tenth time he came out as a winner equaling 14-time Grand Slam champion Pete Sampras' tally.

Alcaraz made his main draw debut at the Majors at the Australian Open in 2021 when he could only reach the second round after starting as a qualifier.

Later that year, he received a wild card entry into the Wimbledon men's singles draw. He played his first five-setter at a Grand Slam there against lucky loser Yasutaka Uchiyama in the opening round and ended up winning 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

The Spaniard's eight other five-set victories include a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(2), 0-6, 7-6(5) win over Stefanos Tsitsipas and a 5-7, 6-1, 5-7, 6-2, 6-0 win against Peter Gojowczyk in third and fourth rounds of the 2021 US Open.

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Albert Ramos Vinolas 6-1, 6-7(7), 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-4 in the second round of the 2022 French Open before overcoming Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 in the first round at Wimbledon a few weeks later.

In his first Grand Slam triumph at the 2022 US Open, he bettered Marin Cilic [6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3], Jannik Sinner [6-3, 6-7, 6-7(7), 7-5(0), 6-3 ], and Frances Tiafoe [6-7(6), 6-3 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3] in the fourth round, quarterfinals, and semifinals, respectively.

At the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, Carlos Alcaraz famously defeated Novak Djokovic in the final 1-6, 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 to claim his second Grand Slam title.

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Matteo Berrettini is the only player to beat Carlos Alcaraz in a five-setter at Grand Slams

Carlos Alcaraz and Matteo Berrettini; Getty

Matteo Berrettini remains the only player thus far to beat Carlos Alcaraz in a five-setter at the Grand Slams. Berrettini did it in the third round of the 2022 Australian Open.

This was notably the Spaniard's fifth match at the Majors that went to the last possible set and he ended on the wrong side of the 6-2, 7-6(3), 4-6, 2-6, 7-6(10-5) outcome against Berrettini. This also remains the Italian's solitary success over the Spaniard as Alcaraz leads 3-1 in head-to-head.

After a hard-fought win over Jannik Sinner in the semifinals of the 2024 French Open recently, it is time for Carlos Alcaraz to shift his focus to Germany's Alexander Zverev, whom he will meet in the summit clash at Philippe Chatrier on Sunday, June 9.