Carlos Alcaraz had to fight back from a set down against Lorenzo Musetti, but has more than earned his place in Sunday’s French Open final.
His start this afternoon was a sluggish one, looking tired and unenthusiastic; not what we have become accustomed to seeing from the four-time Grand Slam champion.
However, once that trend dragged into the second, where he managed to sneak a break to win the set, he kicked back into gear.
The third set was a blowout, and suffering from an injury, Musetti retired in the fourth. A sad way to end a great semi-final.
Carlos Alcaraz reviews his French Open semi-final win
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Carlos Alcaraz was asked what contributed to his slow start. He claimed: ’I didn’t take the chances he brought me the first set. I had a few break points that I couldn’t make it. And I tried to stay there.
‘I knew that I had chances, I was playing great. It was just about a few mistakes or a few things that made the difference in the first set, and then in the second set, it was pretty close as well.
‘I had a break point, well, twice, that I couldn’t make the most of that breaks, but I ended up playing a great tiebreak.’
He then sought to pinpoint the moment where he knew it was time to go for the kill: ’I think his level went down a little bit, and I made the most of it. At the beginning of the third set, I knew what I had to do. I’m pushing him to the limit, tried to make him run from side to side and in the end, you know, he had to retire, but I think it was a really important moment at the beginning of the third set.’
Despite his struggles, John McEnroe still thinks there’s just two players on tour who can beat Alcaraz.
Carlos Alcaraz will face Jannik Sinner in the French Open final
Alcaraz has since learned his French Open final fate, having likely watched tonight’s match between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic with interest.
In the end, it was the former who came out on top in a hard-fought but straight-sets triumph for the Italian.
This marks the 12th meeting between these two generational rivals, but Sunday’s match will be their most important by some distance.
Never before have they faced off in a Grand Slam final, with Alcaraz seeking to defend his crown, whilst Sinner will be wanting his maiden Roland Garros title.
It promises to be an enthralling affair, as it always is when these two meet on the court.
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