Mats Wilander praised the mental fortitude shown by Carlos Alcaraz to win his French Open semi-final.
In one of the most highly anticipated matches of the tournament the explosive Spaniard took on Jannik Sinner, who will become the new World number one on Monday.
It was a tense battle between two of the ATP Tour’s best players on court Philippe Chatrier with a spot in their first Roland Garros final on the line.
They played with that sense of urgency and as they struggled with cramp during a four-hour battle, the Spaniard bested his rival with a performance that showed a staggering level of maturity for a player that turned 21 just a month ago.
What did Mats Wilander say about Carlos Alcaraz at the French Open?
Alcaraz outlasted Sinner in a 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory in their ninth meeting against one another. In the process he became the first player in the Open Era to make Grand Slam finals on hard courts, grass courts and clay courts before the age of 22.
But he had to do it the hard way as he came from behind not once but twice to complete the win. Wilander was impressed with the resilience and tactical nous shown by Alcaraz to win a match in which he did not play his best tennis throughout.
“I mean it was probably not on the same level as the US Open quarter final two years ago but we are never going to get that level on a clay court, it’s too difficult to play like that,” the Swede told Eurosport.
“I am so impressed with both guys. Sinner dictated in the beginning, Alcaraz was not playing well, but he found the recipe to break Sinner down.
“I think he might have surprised himself with the guts and the tactical stamina here, Alcaraz. It’s the first time I have seen him do that.”
Who will Carlos Alcaraz face in the French Open semi-final?
After defeating his great rival to reach the French Open final for the first time, Alcaraz will be up against another player who is into his first final at the clay court Grand Slam in Alexander Zverev.
The 27-year-old had reached the semi-finals in Paris for four successive seasons but after coming up short in the first three, he has now ended that unwanted streak.
The German lost the first set against Casper Ruud, but he stormed back to take a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 victory and avenge his loss to the Norwegian at this stage of the event a year ago.
On Sunday the fourth seed will contest his first major final since the 2020 US Open and is aiming to win the first Grand Slam of his career.
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