Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz – French Open final LIVE SCORES: Defending champ levels epic match against World No 1

Sinner* 6-4 7-6 4-6 6-7 5-5 Alcaraz - Sinner breaks back

Alcaraz with a nervy forehand that flies beyond the baseline on the opening point.

Sinner is then all over a tame second serve and has Alcaraz scrambling.

0-30... surely not...

Alcaraz shows no nerves and still goes on the attack. 15-30.

THE CROWD ARE ON THEIR FEET.

Alcaraz's drop shot looks to be just about perfect.

But Sinner somehow finds the energy and speed to not only make it before the second bounce, but then produce the perfect drop shot. 15-40...

Sinner is conducting the crowd now and they explode into life once again as Alcaraz nets.

Both men have served for the match... and yet we are locked at 5-5 in the fifth set.

Sinner 6-4 7-6 4-6 6-7 4-5 Alcaraz*

Wide serve, thumping forehand winner. Dream start to this must-win game for Sinner.

He then backs it up with another but guesses at 30-0 when Alcaraz winds up a massive forehand... and goes the wrong way as the No2 seed hits a clean winner virtually down the middle of the court.

Alcaraz hits a forehand long and he will come out of his chair to serve for it.

This match started four hours and 59 minutes ago...

Sinner* 6-4 7-6 4-6 6-7 3-5 Alcaraz

Alcaraz knows Sinner is struggling physically so is going for the drop shots at every opportunity.

But his attempt at 15-0 is his worst of the day, bouncing BEFORE reaching the net. Whoops.

His response? An ace down the T and another service winner as Sinner returns long. 40-15.

Sinner plants a forehand on the line to stay in the game but then puts a tricky backhand into the tramlines.

Alcaraz is a game away from defending the French Open...

Sinner 6-4 7-6 4-6 6-7 3-4 Alcaraz*

Sinner keeps his head and flashes a couple of lovely winners to open up a 40-0 lead.

And then he produces another epic running forehand cross-court winner when seemingly on the stretch and out of the point to hit a belting winner.

Hold for Sinner.

He is within touching distance still and that hold is what he can do.

Now can he get the break he needs?

Sinner* 6-4 7-6 4-6 6-7 2-4 Alcaraz

The crowd are stunned. I am stunned. Sinner is stunned.

On the opening point, Alcaraz flies across to produce a truly unbelievable diving forehand volley just over the net and the reaction is more one of sheer stunned awe.

Alcaraz needs to go and wipe himself down with his towels because he is covered in clay - prompting a short delay - before his seventh double fault. 15-15.

Sinner lands a backhand up the line for 15-30 then Alcaraz goes to his classic wide serve and forehand into the open court for 30-30.

Sinner is unhappy, though, as a ball that is 31mm out from Alcaraz is not called and the Spaniard wins the point on the drop shot - but Sinner makes his feelings known that is should have been called out earlier.

Sinner then goes out - narrowly out - and that's the game and he slices a ball up in the air in frustration.

Sinner 6-4 7-6 4-6 6-7 2-3 Alcaraz*

Alcaraz rushes to his chair between the games despite not changing ends to swig some pickle juice - that helps with offsetting cramp.

Down 15-0 on the Sinner serve, Alcaraz somehow chases down a short ball and then races back to flick the ball past a bamboozled Sinner, who is then pulled back to 30-30.

Sinner has to hold here... and he does.

Alcaraz returns long then flops a backhand return into the net.

This is now the longest French Open final at four hours 43 minutes.

Sinner* 6-4 7-6 4-6 6-7 1-3 Alcaraz

His arms must feel so heavy after virtually four-and-a-half hours on court but Alcaraz shows superb touch with the nifty drop shot - and Sinner does not run for it.

Literally a carbon copy in the second point. Again Sinner does not chase it down - that is very, very telling.

He has been running those down for the whole match until now.

Have his legs gone?

He is really struggling to move and it is Alcaraz that is deciding which way the points go - winners, errors or forcing Sinner into mistakes.

After going down 40-30, Sinner lets out some emotion towards his team - that is the first sign of any frustration he has allowed out.

But fast forward a couple of minutes and Sinner has a break point... surely he can't can he?

Alcaraz kicks in a second serve and brushes the winner away.

Oh my word - how has he pulled that drop shot off? That is staggering from Alcaraz as he cuts a forehand just over the net and though Sinner chases it down, it is simply too good.

But back comes the Italian to deuce before two serves clip the net and go out - not the time for a double fault!

Huge from Alcaraz to go on the offensive and save it in style.

Sinner mishits a return and has a small outburst of anger - and he will be seething inside as Alcaraz eventually holds after nearly ten minutes with a forehand winner.

Sinner 6-4 7-6 4-6 6-7 1-2 Alcaraz*

Sinner is still ripping the ball - but Alcaraz is staying with him which was not the case in a lot of those rallies in the first two sets.

A Sinner ace down the T was called out but again Alcaraz stepped in as makeshift line judge. Is there anything he can't do?

Well, keep the ball in at 30-15 is one of them - and again at 40-15.

Big hold from Sinner and a look to his box. Still very little reaction but boy has he been through the emotions this afternoon.

Sinner* 6-4 7-6 4-6 6-7 0-2 Alcaraz

Sinner's level has definitely dropped, here - and who can blame him?

This is his first fifth set since losing at Wimbledon last year.

A relatively routine hold for Alcaraz to consolidate the early advantage.

Sinner 6-4 7-6 4-6 6-7 0-1 Alcaraz* - Alcaraz breaks

Alcaraz is SO pumped. He jumped out of his seat. He is conducting the crowd.

He has the momentum, the majority of the 15,000 inside Chatrier... and gets to 0-30 on Sinner's serve.

Then he gets to 15-40 and then 30-40...

And on the second break point, he drop shots Sinner and that's the break.

Sinner keels over and has he injured his leg or is he cramping up?

Either way, his legs are not in a good way right now.

Just remember what we said - Sinner has never won a match over three hours 50 and Alcaraz is 12-1 in fifth sets... Four hours 20 currently on the clock.

Sinner* 6-4 7-6 4-6 6-6 (2-4) Alcaraz

Mistimed, mishit forehand from Alcaraz into the net and that's the immediate mini break for Sinner. 1-0 Sinner.

Backhand exchange but it's Alcaraz who blinks first and pushes long. 2-0 Sinner.

Crushing forehand cross-court winner and that's the mini break gone in a flash. 2-1 Sinner.

Ace out wide, although that was a slightly strange bounce - maybe because it landed on the line. 2-2.

Ace out wide - oh, no, called out. Both players walk to take a look, as does the chair umpire and she confirms it caught the line. Impeccable serving from the Spaniard. 3-2 Alcaraz.

Alcaraz on the march and Sinner buckles, firing wide into the tramlines. 4-2 Alcaraz.

Sinner 6-4 7-6 4-6 6-6 Alcaraz*

Two quick points for Sinner on serve to get to 30-0.

A nerve-settling buffer, maybe.

A rushed forehand into the net won't help, though.

Alcaraz misses and it's 40-15. Alcaraz blitzes a rasping winner. 40-30.

We have hit the four-hour mark as Alcaraz nets on the stretch.

Into a tie-break...

Sinner* 6-4 7-6 4-6 5-6 Alcaraz

Another classy moment at 15-0 hen Sinner confirms the ball that was called out actually caught the line. 30-0.

This match has been played in brilliant spirit, I must say.

On the next point, Alcaraz does confirm a Sinner close call was indeed just long.

Nothing close about the next point as Sinner dumps a forehand low into the net.

Very impressive hold from Alcaraz, who lets out another massive reaction, and suddenly we are a game away from a deciding fifth set.

Alcaraz is loving this battle - and is loving this crowd's love.

Sinner 6-4 7-6 4-6 5-5 Alcaraz* - Alcaraz breaks back

Alcaraz will be gutted the first serve gets called out because he absolutely creamed a forehand return - but he gets the opening point anyway when a very nervy Sinner goes long.

Fair play, Jannik Sinner. Two overheads are far from convincing but then he produces the deftest, most delicate drop volleys. 15-15.

It is long again from Sinner on a regular - if it can be called regular at this point - rallying ball. 15-30.

Alcaraz puts one right on the baseline then comes in to place a backhand volley out of Sinner's reach. 15-40.

Two break points - if he takes one of these, this place will erupt...

AND HE DOES!

Incredible drama. Eight minutes ago, Sinner had three chances to win the French Open.

Now he is serving at 5-5.

Sinner* 6-4 7-6 4-6 5-4 Alcaraz

Sinner on the front foot, taking control of the first point. Too hot to handle. 0-15.

Double fault. 0-30.

Remember, neither player has lost a Grand Slam final before...

The umpire is lenient on the 25-second shot clock - understandably so.

Alcaraz booms a forehand long and suddenly, once again it is 0-40 on the Alcaraz serve...

The Spaniard catches one on the baseline, then the Italian puts one just beyond. 15-40.

Sinner goes for the big backhand return on the second serve.. but it is too big. 30-40.

Great return from Sinner but Alcaraz fights back and Sinner nets. Deuce.

Three championship points have come and gone...

Ace out wide. Advantage Alcaraz. Clutch.

Special forehand up the line from the Spaniard. Wow.

That is some hold from the defending champion - he is still alive in this final and Alcaraz is lapping up the crowd's adulation.

Can they roar him on to break Sinner here? Or can Sinner hold and be crowned French Open champion?

Sinner walks from his chair to the baseline. Alcaraz bounds.

Sinner 6-4 7-6 4-6 5-3 Alcaraz*

Sinner wants the opening point... Alcaraz takes it.

But he gets it back to 15-15 when Alcaraz sends a backhand long... needlessly long.

He then gets trapped at the net when Sinner drops a backhand below the height of the net and Alcaraz nets the volley.

More solid, mature hitting from Sinner and when Alcaraz nets, it is 5-3.

We are just nine minutes from that three hours 50 minute mark... Sinner 0/6 after that time, Alcaraz 9/10 in their careers after that time so far.

Sinner* 6-4 7-6 4-6 4-3 Alcaraz - Sinner breaks

Is Sinner making his move?

Up 0-15, it is Sinner's turn to throw in the drop shot and he does so expertly. It is so good and well-disguised that Alcaraz does not even bother chasing it down. 0-30.

Alcaraz shanks a forehand long and suddenly it is triple break point...

And he takes the first!

Alcaraz pushes a backhand wide and Sinner is within touching distance.

He has one hand on the trophy...

Sinner 6-4 7-6 4-6 3-3 Alcaraz*

Clinical stuff from Sinner behind his serve.

At 15-0, he crunches a smash away and almost hits a line judge who does well to duck out of the way.

A comfortable game for the world No1, who is still on for the Calendar Grand Slam right now.

Sinner* 6-4 7-6 4-6 2-3 Alcaraz

Up 15-0, Alcaraz tries to open himself up for the drop shot but it catches the net.

No bother for him, though, as he responds by getting to 40-15 thanks to some pinpoint serving.

However, a double fault gives Sinner a slight hope - but that is quickly quashed.

Another important hold.

They are getting more and more crucial at this stage.

Sinner 6-4 7-6 4-6 2-2 Alcaraz*

Staggering, staggering defence from Alcaraz. There is no way he should stay in the 15-0 rally as long as he does but somehow keeps on making Sinner play one more shot.

The Italian, though, works his way to 40-0 before getting caught out as Alcaraz flashes a backhand into the empty court then forces Sinner to scramble a backhand volley long.

At 40-30, Alcaraz picks the wrong choice to go back into the forehand corner and Sinner picks off the winner up the line to hold.

Sinner* 6-4 7-6 4-6 1-2 Alcaraz

A mishit from Alcaraz and he is down 0-15 but he goes back to his favourite combo of the wide serve into the Sinner backhand and then flashing forehand into the space.

But Sinner responds with a rasping backhand up the line - that was sumptuous.

It is back to 30-30, though, when Sinner nets and keels over - frustration or fatigue?

He does work up a break point - but it is snatched away from him when Alcaraz places a brave backhand right on the back of the baseline.

Sinner can barely believe it and takes a look at the mark, looks up to the heavens, then wipes it away with his foot.

The Italian goes long and Alcaraz lets out a rather unusual wail of delight.

He knows that was an important hold.

Sinner 6-4 7-6 4-6 1-1 Alcaraz*

That game did not last long.

Sinner races through without dropping a point, wrapping it up by unwinding and whipping a forehand into the corner.

Three hours and 13 minutes on the clock - remember, Sinner has never won a match beyond three hours 50 minutes.

Both looking absolutely fine physically right now.

Sinner* 6-4 7-6 4-6 0-1 Alcaraz

Alcaraz made a slow start to the second and third sets, dropping his opening service game.

And this one is not routine, either, pushed to deuce before a roar of delight when a squirming Sinner pushes a fast second-serve return long.

Another mammoth second serve, this down the T, wraps up the opening game.

Alcaraz has the crowd with him and is feeling good.

So much so that he sends three racquets off to be restrung... at this moment, he will be confident he will need them all.