It doesnt get any bigger - Sinner & Alcaraz set for French Open showdown

Carlos Alcaraz has won seven of his 11 matches against Jannik Sinner - and each of the past four

French Open 2025 - mens singles final

Date: Sunday, 8 June Time: 14:00 BST Venue: Roland Garros

Coverage: Live radio commentary across 5 Live Sport and BBC Sounds, plus live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app

The latest chapter in the burgeoning rivalry between the two brightest talents in mens tennis will play out on one of the sports grandest stages for the first time in Sundays French Open final.

World number one Jannik Sinner and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz meet in a tantalising Paris showpiece, having already captured seven major titles between them.

The first Grand Slam final to feature two players born in the 2000s heralds the beginning of a new era in the mens game - but only one can leave Paris with their perfect record in major finals intact.

"It doesnt get any bigger now. Its a special moment for me and for Carlos," said Italys Sinner.

"The tension you feel before the match and during the match is a little bit different in a way, because we are both very young, we are both different, but talented."

This will be the first French Open mens final between two players aged 23 or under in more than three decades.

Spanish 22-year-old Alcaraz has already amassed four Grand Slams - including beating Alexander Zverev in five sets to win last years Roland Garros final.

All three Grand Slam triumphs for Sinner, 23, have come on hard courts - and he is seeking to become only the sixth man in the Open era to win three consecutive majors.

It is the first time Alcaraz and Sinner have faced off in a major final - but it is unlikely to be the last.

In addition to lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires, Sundays champion will pocket 2.55m euros (£2.15m) in prize money and gain 2,000 ranking points

Whatever the outcome on Sunday, Alcaraz and Sinner will have carved up the past six majors between them as they assert themselves in the post Big Three era.

Speaking after his semi-final loss to Sinner, the 38-year-old Novak Djokovic said of the pair: "Theyre definitely great for tennis, both of them.

"I think their rivalry is something that our sport needs, no doubt.

"The way they are playing and approaching tennis life, I think they are going to have very successful careers in the next years.

"Im sure that were going to see them lifting the big trophies quite often."

Following his US Open and Australian Open triumphs, Sinner goes into the French Open final on a 20-match winning streak at the majors.

The youngest man to reach three consecutive Grand Slam singles finals since Pete Sampras in 1994, his unshakeable consistency combined with devastating precision means he is yet to drop a set in Paris this year.

But Alcaraz has proved to be Sinners kryptonite of late.

Jannik Sinner could increase his lead over Carlos Alcaraz in the world rankings to 3,430 points, or have it reduced to 2,030 points

Since the start of his title-winning run at the China Open in September 2023, Sinner - who served a three-month doping suspension between February and May - has lost just nine of the 120 matches he has contested.

But four of those defeats have come in his past four meetings with Alcaraz, including in straight sets in the Italian Open final on clay last month.

Asked if he enjoys the challenge of facing Alcaraz, whom he trails 7-4 in the overall head-to-head, Sinner joked: "Its fun and not fun.

"I think we try to push ourselves in the best possible way.

"I believe when there is a good match, its also good to play [it]. Its very special."

Following in the footsteps of Rafael Nadal as the second Spaniard to reach five major mens singles finals, Alcaraz could emulate his childhood hero by winning his fifth major at the exact same age: 22 years, one month and three days.

The two-time Wimbledon champion has taken just 82 matches to reach 70 wins at slams - quicker than all but Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, who took 81.

He improved his record on clay this season to 21 wins in 22 matches - including title wins in Monte Carlo and Rome - after Lorenzo Musetti retired with injury when trailing in their semi-final.

"Most of the time it is just about suffering," Alcaraz said when asked what it would take to beat either Sinner or Djokovic after winning Fridays first semi-final.

"But my favourite thing is that it gives me the feedback of how I can be a better player.

"I think thats important, and thats beautiful. Even if I win or not, it gives you a lot of stats and feedback."

On Sinner, he added: "Hes the best tennis player right now. I mean, hes destroying every opponent."