Roland Garros: Sinner-Alcaraz final glues 5 million Italians to the screen

Some matches don't end when the scoreboard goes off. They live on in thoughts, in statistics, in emotional replays the next day. The Roland Garros 2025 final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner - won by the Spaniard after 5 hours and 28 minutes of fierce and sublime tennis - is one of those. Perhaps the match of the year. Certainly one of those matches that every generation remembers in its own way: those who were there in the stands, those in front of the TV, those who simply heard about it when the match was over.

It was the longest match ever played in the history of the Paris final. It was also the most watched ever for Warner Bros. Discovery group. As reported by Warner Bros. Discovery itself - which has renewed until 2030 the broadcasting rights of the competition - referring to Auditel total audience data, more than 5 million Italian viewers tuned in to watch the match on Sunday afternoon, 8 June 2025, which put on record a peak audience of 7.3 million viewers and a record share of 44.4% (and an average share of 38.1%), becoming the most-watched programme ever in the Warner Bros. Discovery portfolio. Rai prime time numbers, to understand. Numbers that say a lot: tennis is no longer a sport for the few, it has fully entered the heart of a country.

"On balance," explains Francesco Siliato, media analyst at Studio Frasi, "this is a major sporting event that produced an average audience of 5.1 million people and 13 million contacts. At the moment, the characteristic of tennis remains that of being followed on TV in a very diversified way; the average share of 38.1% sees men at 45% and women at 31%; the North-East at 44.4% and the South at 23.2%". In the end, the statistics indicate a 24% 24-hour share for the entire WBD group, 12.7% for Nove (third national channel), 5.3% for Eurosport (fifth national channel).

It was not just a match, but an opera in five acts. The first two won by Sinner. The third, the turning point: Alcaraz changes gear, starts to respond deeper, varies more, takes greater risks. The fourth is a mental tug-of-war, lost by Sinner more through hesitation than demerit. The fifth is a nervous war: the score remains in the balance, but something gives the Spaniard that extra quid. And for now he confirms Paris as his home, his kingdom.

Meanwhile, the match-duel is already being celebrated urbi et orbi. 'Légende', writes L'Équipe, immortalising the embrace between the two at the end of the marathon. "Alcaraz keeps his crown," headlines Le Figaro. And while Time extols 'the greatest comeback', the Guardian makes a bold prediction: 'This match will be remembered for centuries'. Tributes pour in from everywhere. Rafa Nadal, the king of clay, applauds them both. Chris Evert jokingly asks 'to give the trophy to both of them'. In fact, the super tie-break had to intervene to decide: the one with 10 points and a two-point lead. The one of special occasions.