Facing three championship points against the world No.1 in the fourth set of the French Open final, the writing was not just on the wall for Carlos Alcaraz, but possibly being etched, in the form of Jannik Sinner’s name, into the Coupe des Mousquetaires.
What happened next will go down in tennis and even sporting history as one of the greatest comebacks ever.
Alcaraz, who had been two sets down, saved the match points, won the fourth set and took the fifth on a tie-break to seal victory in five hours, 29 minutes.
‘For the sport it’s something amazing,’ said his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero. ‘Having these two guys fighting for big trophies, we have to be very happy about it in tennis. They know they have to play unbelievable to beat the other guy.’
But where does it rank alongside sport’s other great comebacks?
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1. Istanbul 2005
Six years after Manchester United came back from the dead to beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final, Liverpool said ‘hold my beer’.
Lucky to be only 3-0 down to an experienced Milan at half-time in Istanbul, Rafa Benitez’s men somehow clawed their way back to 3-3 and took the game to extra-time before winning on penalties.
2. Headingley
Leeds was the scene for two all-rounders’ most iconic Ashes moments and impossible wins. In 1981 Ian Botham’s unbeaten 149 inspired England to victory after following on.
Ben Stokes hit 135 not out, putting on 73 with last man Jack Leach (one) in 2019 for a one-wicket triumph.
3. The Miracle of Medinah
Europe’s golfers were facing a humiliating defeat in the USA in 2012, as they trailed 10-4 on Saturday afternoon.
A dramatic late foursomes win inspired by Ian Poulter closed the overnight gap slightly and then the visitors dominated the singles to triumph 14½-13½.
4. 28-3
Super Bowl LI between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots will forever be known as ’28-3′ – the lead the Falcons’ held in the third quarter. The only trouble is, the final score was 28-34 – to the Patriots.
5. La Remontada
Why do Spanish clubs talk incessantly about winning a European tie after being thrashed in the first leg? Blame the original remontada (comeback).
Paris Saint-Germain beat Barcelona 4-0 in the first leg of their 2017 last-16 tie. Barca won the return 6-1 to triumph 6-5 on aggregate.
6. Wotta turnaround!
Dave Wottle’s Olympic 800metres triump in Munich in 1972 was one for the ages.
Miles adrift early on and trailing the pack at the bell, the American in a golf cap charged through the field to take the unlikeliest gold medal.
7. Lauda lives
Just six weeks after being read the last rites after a horrifying crash at the 1976 German Grand Prix left him with terrible burns, Niki Lauda was back in Formula One and finished fourth at Monza. He missed out on the world title by a single point.
8. Will power
Injuries and the trauma caused by the fatal 2003 shooting of her half-sister contributed to Serena Williams plunging down the tennis rankings in the mid-2000s.
But a player dubbed the queen of comebacks rose again, defying expectations to win the 2007 Australian Open.
