JANNIK SINNER had two hands on the French Open crown – or at least nine fingers…
But fans reckon he was then hit by the same curse that struck Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final six years ago.
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Nothing less than “the cursed finger”.
Sinner was leading Carlos Alcaraz 2-1 in sets and 5-3 in the fourth, before earning three match points at love-40 on the Spaniard’s serve.
And it was then that some Sinner fans gleefully raised a finger in anticipation of the World No1 clinching his first Roland Garros title.
That’s just what happened to Federer when he had two match points on his own serve against big rival Novak Djokovic at SW19 back in 2019.
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Both times fingers went up. Both times fortunes went down for the man on top.
Djokovic clinched a five-set epic, then Alcaraz did just that too on Sunday – winning in the longest-ever French Open final.
And fans couldn’t resist making creepy comparisons.
One wrote: “If it’s not a cursed finger again” – followed by crying-with-laughter emojis.
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Others taunted Sinner fans – as their hero went on to lose 4-6 6-7 6-4 7-6 7-6 in five hours and 29 minutes.
The 23-year-old might also have thought the spirits were against him for another reason.
He sportingly gave up a point in the fourth point after telling the chair umpire an Alcaraz shot had wrongly been called out.
But replays showed line judges had been right to call it long.
Three-time Slam winner Sinner admitted afterwards it was tough to speak after losing from such a strong position.
The rueful runner-up said: “It’s easier to play than talk now.
“I’m still happy with this trophy – I won’t sleep very well tonight but it is OK.”
Meanwhile, Alcaraz praised his beaten rival – perhaps knowing the pair are way ahead of the world’s rest in the men’s game.
He told Sinner: “The level you have is amazing.
“It is a privilege to share a court with you in every tournament and in making history.”
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