Carlos Alcaraz is following in the footsteps of his longtime idol and fellow countryman Rafael Nadal, literally and figuratively. Alcaraz, who defeated Jannik Sinner in a thrilling, comeback victory from two sets down in the men's French Open final on Sunday,

Grinning from ear to ear during the decisive tiebreak, Carlos Alcaraz erased a two-set deficit in a major for the first time in his career and erased three championship points to upend top-ranked Jannik Sinner 4-6,

Alcaraz and Sinner produced 5 1/2 hours of evidence Sunday that the game is in good hands — and that their rivalry will be, and perhaps already is, a transcendent one