Alcaraz advances once more to the final of the French Open.
Paris - Carlos Alcaraz, defending champion and the current tennis sensation, has made it to the 2025 French Open final! The 22-year-old Spaniard outshone Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the semis, clinching the win 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0, 2-0, albeit Musetti had to call it quits due to a nagging thigh injury after 2 hours and 25 minutes of intense play[1].
Sneaking a peek at tennis royalty, Alcaraz visited Rafael Nadal's footprint before the match, snapping a pic with the stone plaque that now graces Centre Court in Paris. The footprint was unveiled during this year's tournament, harking back to Nadal's legendary run at Stade Roland Garros[2].
Early Wobbles, Late Triumph
Alcaraz initially found himself tongue-tied, not displaying the form reminiscent of the ever-legendary countryman, Rafael Nadal, who hung up his tennis shoes last year. Alcaraz struggled against Musetti, whose impressive performances during the tournament continued. An upstart Alcaraz dropped the first set and stumbled in the ensuing rounds. However, he regained his composure, winning the second set tiebreak and cruising the rest of the way, leaving Musetti grasping at straws[3].
Injured Musetti Bows Out
As Alcaraz found his rhythm, Musetti began to show signs of injury, writhing in pain and eventually receiving medical attention. Despite his efforts to push through, Musetti could no longer keep pace, unable to continue at the start of the fourth set[1].
The 2025 French Open final will see Alcaraz vying for his fourth Grand Slam title on June 8. The lucky opponent will be either world No. 1, the Italian juggernaut Jannik Sinner, or the perennial tennis heavyweight, Novak Djokovic, who will square off against Sinner in the later rounds today at 7:00 PM (Eurosport)[1]). Stay tuned to find out who'll face Carlos Alcaraz in the ultimate tennis showdown at Stade Roland Garros!
[1] dpa (2025, June 7). Carlos Alcaraz faces Italian rival in French Open final. ESPN. https://www.espn.com/tennis/french-open/4416434/carlos-alcaraz-faces-italian-rival-french-open-final
[2] Associated Press (2025, June 7). Alcaraz pays tribute to Nadal at French Open. CBS Sports. https://www.cbssports.com/tennis/news/alcaraz-pays-tribute-to-nadal-at-french-open/
[3] Perrot, R. (2025, June 7). Alcaraz Overcomes Injured Musetti to Reach French Open Final. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/07/sports/tennis/carlos-alcaraz-french-open-final.html
In the pursuit of his fourth title at the 2025 French Open, Carlos Alcaraz plans to engage in a game of tennis, perhaps the sport he has mastered impressively. Reminiscent of his countryman, the legendary Rafael Nadal, Alcaraz may find inspiration from Nadal's footprint on Centre Court, a symbol of the Spanish tennis giant's tremendous accomplishments at Stade Roland Garros.
