Jannik Sinner`s attempt at good sportsmanship cost him in the thrilling French Open final against Carlos Alcaraz, as he incorrectly awarded Alcaraz a point.
The Italian World No. 1 informed the umpire that Alcaraz`s forehand shot was good, but subsequent replays revealed it was actually out.
Earlier in the fourth set, Alcaraz had saved three championship points. He then achieved an incredible comeback, winning the match 4-6, 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 7-6 after five hours and 29 minutes on court.
Unlike the other three Grand Slam events, the French Open (Roland Garros) does not utilize Hawk-Eye technology for reviewing line calls.
This lack of technology became a point of frustration for Sinner later in the final set when a shot by Alcaraz was called in, despite replays showing it was actually 31mm (just over an inch) outside the line.
Thus, while Sinner received praise for his sportsmanship during the match, many viewers criticized the French Open organizers for their reluctance to adopt modern technology for line calls.
The disputed call occurred during the fourth set when Alcaraz was serving, aiming to take a 6-5 lead before eventually leveling the match at two sets apiece.
The line judges initially called the shot out, prompting the chair umpire to leave her seat to inspect the mark on the clay court.
However, as she approached, Sinner gestured, indicating that he believed the ball was in.
The umpire promptly acknowledged Sinner`s gesture with a raised hand, awarded the point to Alcaraz, and returned to her chair.
Nevertheless, subsequent freeze-frame replays of the point clearly showed the ball landing beyond the baseline.
This incident led many observers to commend both players for their excellent sportsmanship throughout the match, while simultaneously questioning the tournament`s continued refusal to implement Hawk-Eye technology.
Reactions from fans online praised the players` conduct, with comments like, “They are both acting like saints here,” and “class acts all around.” Others noted the positive display of civility, stating, “So nice to see some civility in the world!” and suggested, “That is why they are 2 favourites.”
However, not all reactions were positive regarding the tournament itself. Some viewers voiced frustration over the absence of technology, calling it a “Joke of a tourny” due to “So many missed called because they refuse to use technology.” Another commenter agreed, saying they “Honestly thought it looked clearly out at full speed” and noted “A number of very questionable calls at the end of that set…”.
Ultimately, around ninety minutes after the disputed line call, Alcaraz sealed his impressive comeback victory, winning the fifth set via a decisive 10-2 championship tie-break.
