Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner French Open epic draws 5.5 million viewers in record-breaking final

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner not only delivered one of the greatest Roland-Garros finals in recent memory, but they also drew the largest television audience for the men’s tournament in 14 years.

Aired across France 2 and France 3, the five-set thriller captivated an average of 5.5 million viewers on Sunday afternoon, reaching a 41.5% audience share according to Médiamétrie. At its peak, the match pulled in a staggering 9.5 million viewers on France 3 as the country tuned in to witness Alcaraz’s dramatic match point.

The 2025 final was a marathon in every sense. Clocking in at 5 hours and 29 minutes, it became one of the longest matches in tournament history. Alcaraz’s comeback win over Sinner ending with a score of 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2), was as exhausting as it was exhilarating, and viewers stayed glued to their screens from start to finish.

Commentated by Matthieu Lartot and Justine Hénin, the broadcast soared in popularity as the tension built. It marked the highest viewership for a men's final at Roland-Garros since 2011, underlining the growing star power of both finalists.

The women’s final the day before also saw strong ratings. Coco Gauff’s three-set victory over Aryna Sabalenka drew in 3.15 million viewers on France 2, with a 40.5% audience share and a peak of 5.1 million during match point. That marked the best performance for a women’s final since Justine Henin’s win over Mary Pierce in 2005, which brought in 4.1 million viewers.

The match sparked instant praise across the tennis world with Rafael Nadal posting on X (formerly Twitter) the following: "¡Qué final de @rolandgarros tan increíble! ¡Enhorabuena @carlosalcaraz! Congrats also @janniksin for the great battle " (“What an incredible Roland-Garros final! Congratulations Carlos Alcaraz! Congrats also to Jannik Sinner for the great battle.”).

Coco Gauff, fresh off her own triumph in the women’s final, chimed in with a playful nod to her past clash with Alcaraz in Beijing, tweeting: "we had to run beijing back for the one time! congratulations @carlosalcaraz on an incredible win! You are amazing!".

Even Hollywood actor and tennis enthusiast Matthew McConaughey weighed in, tweeting: "Thank you @janniksin @carlosalcaraz for the absolute elite mano y mano competition. Wow. Congrats Carlos.".

With both finals drawing historic audiences, Roland-Garros 2025 will be remembered not just for its epic matches but for confirming the arrival of a new golden generation. Alcaraz now holds five Grand Slam titles at just 22, while Sinner’s performance under pressure proved he is every bit a future champion.