When Sinner won the game to make it 5-5, it was his turn to milk the applause and he was two points away from victory in the 12th game, with Alcaraz on serve and at 15-30 and at deuce.

But Alcaraz made a staggering cross-court backhand to make it 6-6 and force a tiebreaker, with the crowd going wild when Alcaraz's cross-court winner made it 4-0.

"Just amazing the support you have given me today," Alcaraz said. "During the whole tournament."

Alcaraz won the match with a superb forehand pass down the line, fell onto his back to celebrate, then rushed over to dance and hug the team members in his box.

"I'm very happy for you, and you deserve it, so congrats," the 23-year-old Sinner told Alcaraz. "It's an amazing trophy, so I won't sleep tonight very well, but it's okay."

Nightmare ninth

Sinner may have nightmares about the ninth game of the fourth set.

Serving to stay in the match at 5-3 down, Alcaraz trailed 0-40 to give Sinner three match points.

On the second match point, and with Alcaraz on second serve, he hit a hurried backhand which landed just out. He then hit a forehand into the net for another unforced error, making it deuce.

The crowd chanted "Carlos, Carlos," and roared when Alcaraz hit an ace, then gave him a standing ovation when his audacious forehand down the line went in — to win that game — and again when he broke Sinner's serve to level at 5-5.

"That's what the real champions have done in their whole careers. Not being afraid," Alcaraz said. "That's why I had my best tennis in crucial moments."

Sinner's sportsmanship

Despite having just lost a chance to win another major, Sinner showed great sportsmanship to give Alcaraz the point for a 30-0 lead in the 11th game.

Alcaraz's forehand landed at the back of the court and, as the chair umpire prepared to come down and inspect the mark, Sinner told her to go back because he saw the ball was in.

The crowd applauded him politely, but the noise level erupted when Alcaraz won the fourth-set tiebreaker to level the match.

By now, the fans had what they wanted — an Alcaraz comeback — and fans showed their unbridled delight when he won points with astounding drop shots from deep or leapt to bang cross-court forehand winners.

Alcaraz hit 70 winners, compared to 53 for Sinner, who might have been feeling like it was a case of deja vu.

Alcaraz beat Sinner in the French Open semifinals last year, coming back from 2-1 down in five sets. He beat Sinner last month in the Italian Open final — the tournament where Sinner returned from his doping ban.

Alcaraz now owns a 22-1 record on clay this year.

Celebrities at the final

On a warm day with a light breeze caressing Court Philippe-Chatrier, big names turned out.

Dustin Hoffman and Natalie Portman, movie director Spike Lee, singer Pharrell Williams, Formula 1 driver George Russell and world rugby star Antoine Dupont watched what promised to be a tight contest.

Sinner seemed on the way to victory, but No 2-ranked Alcaraz fought back. After clinching the third set with a volley at the net, he stood in the middle of the court, shaking his fist in celebration.

One of the greatest finals in French Open history was just getting started.

Agencies Via Xinhua