Roland Garros, the final between Sinner and Alcaraz on free-to-air TV on channel Nine

After the Australian Open final in January, it's back to business: Italian fans will be able to enjoy the challenge between Sinner and Alcaraz in the last act of Roland Garros free-to-air, on channel Nove: free flagship of the Warner Bros Discovery TV group. And what will take place on Sunday 8 June at 3pm on the red clay of Paris - broadcast free to air on Nove, simulcast on Eurosport 1 and in streaming on Discovery+ - has all the makings of a milestone in a rivalry already consigned to the future. Jannik Sinner versus Carlos Alcaraz. Number 1 versus number 2.

Not a foregone conclusion. There are no regulations that can oblige the owners of the Roland Garros rights - in this case Eurospost controlled by Warner Bros Discovery - to broadcast the match free-to-air. This particular case is regulated by Agcom resolution 131/12/CONS issued on the basis of Article 33 of the Testo unico dei servizi di media audiovisivi. An act of 2012 (known as the Events List Resolution) in which various appointments, national and otherwise, considered to be of particular relevance are put on paper. Among them, as far as tennis is concerned, 'the finals and semifinals of the Davis Cup and Fed Cup in which the Italian national team participates and the Internazionali d'Italia di tennis tournament in which Italian athletes participate'. This is what is stated in Annex A to Resolution No. 131/12/CONS with the list of relevant events. These include, to name but one more, 'the final and semi-finals of the Champions League and the Europa League if Italian teams are involved'. For these, there cannot be exclusive broadcasting and only in coded form, since - as per Article 2 of Annex B to the Agcom resolution - "at least 80% of the population must be ensured the possibility of following them on a free programme schedule without additional costs".

Sinner comes to this match on the strength of three Slam finals played and three won: two Australian Open and one US Open, spread out like stages in a patient but unstoppable climb. On the other side of the net, Alcaraz does not ask for permission. The defending Roland Garros champion, the Spaniard is back from four consecutive victories in direct clashes, including the recent one in the Roman final. The balance between the two is 7-4 for Carlos, and even on clay, he has the advantage. So there is no point in dancing around: Jannik has not beaten Carlos since 2023. But with the most coveted clay court trophy on the line, all statistics are bound to falter.

The pre-match will feature well-known tennis faces such as Chris Evert and Mats Wilander, with commentary by Jacopo Lo Monaco and Barbara Rossi. The main menu is rich, but the appetiser is anything but minimal: at 11 a.m., on Eurosport 1 and Discovery+, the women's doubles final will be staged with two Italians on the court, Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini. The two Italians, fresh from their victory in the mixed doubles (together with Andrea Vavassori), will also try to impose themselves in the more noble draw, facing Danilina and Krunic.