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A which started with a ceremony to celebrate 14-time champion Rafael Nadal finished with his fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz retaining the trophy on his own march into tennis history. And after winning his fifth Major title in a five-set, five-hour classic, the Wimbledon champion is destined to be also recognised as one of the greatest players of all time.

The world No.2 became the first player to ever win the French Open title after saving three match points in the final. And the 22-year-old won his first ever match from two sets down to beat the world No.1 4-6 6-7 6-4 7-6 7-6 in five hours and 29 minutes. He is also the youngest player to retain the title since Nadal as he won his fifth major crown at exactly the same age as his idol aged 22 years, one month and three days old.

But the scores and the stats fail to do justice to a pulsating gladiatorial battle between the top two players in the world who have now won the last six Grand Slam titles. Some of the power hitting from the baseline was simply breathtaking. It was an instant classic.

In the presentation ceremony, he told Sinner: "I am just really happy to be able to make history with you in this tournament. I am just really happy to put my name into one of the best finals and the longest final here at Roland Garros."

It was the first Grand Slam final between world No.1 Sinner and world No.2 Alcaraz - and the first Gen Z final between two men born in the 21st century. And there could be many more to come. TNT Sports analyst Mats Wilander said: "The level at the end was absolutely ridiculous.

"They have taken our sport to another level. I never thought I'd say that after the big three - Roger, Rafa, and Novak - but it's actually faster than ever and a level that is hard to believe they can do this."

The previous longest Paris final was in 1982 when Mats Wilander needed four hours and 42 minutes to beat Guillermo Vilas in four sets. It was also the second longest Grand Slam final ever after the 2012 Australian Open final between Djokovic and Nadal which lasted five hours and 53 minutes. "I think that one was better," said the modest Alcaraz.

The tone for the contest was set in an extraordinary 12-minute opening game where Sinner saved three break points. In a brutal contest, the Italian took the first two sets but his run of winning 31 consecutive Grand Slam sets was snapped when Alcaraz took the third.

In the fourth set, Alcaraz saved the first of three Championship points on his own serve at 3-5 after three hours and 43 minutes. The match was to last another one hour and 46 minutes. Sinner could not serve out the match at 5-4 and Alcaraz drew the match level in the second tiebreak.

And in the French Open first ever match tiebreak in a final, Alcaraz raced to a 7-0 lead before taking his first match point with a whipped forehand pass down the line to take the decider 10-2.

World No.1 Sinner was playing his first Grand Slam - and only his second event - since serving a three-month doping ban. He demolished Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals but ran out of steam in the final. "It was an amazing battle," said the US and Australian Open winner. "Some time ago, we would have signed to be here. I won't sleep very well tonight but it is ok."