Gritty Alcaraz Claws past Exhausted Musetti to Reach French Open Final
Elevated Alcaraz to the finals of the French Open.
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In a to-and-fro battle, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz overcomes a tricky start against Lorenzo Musetti before the latter retires in the French Open semifinals. Alcaraz, ranked No. 2 in the world, will face the winner of the Sinner vs Djokovic clash on Sunday (15:00 CET / Eurosport) for the championship trophy.
"Tough one today, hope Musetti recovers soon," grinning Alcaraz said post-match. "He fought hard, but I'm happy to come through."
Unfortunately for the Italian, Musetti, competing in his second Grand Slam semifinal (tied for Wimbledon 2024), lost steam after a grueling first two sets. "It's a bitter pill to swallow. I gave it my all, but my body just couldn't keep up," he lamented.
In a packed Court Philippe Chatrier, Musetti showcased impressive initial form, winning the opening set 6-4 after converting on his only break point. Alcaraz, known for his precision, made several uncharacteristic errors, struggling to find his rhythm.
But Alcaraz, proving his pedigree, responded swiftly in the second, breaking Musetti at 2-1. However, the determined Italian reacted stealthily, keeping the error count low as Alcaraz sweated over every point. Fuming after a fifth game, Alcaraz vented his frustration by kicking his chair, finally finding the edge to hold off Musetti 7-6 (7-3).
That seemed to be the turning point, as Musetti's energy dwindled. Underestimating Alcaraz's toughness, Musetti pressed on, only to falter and concede the third set 6-0, followed by the fourth set 2-0. Alcaraz's physical prowess took over, enabling him to advance to the championship match.
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Interestingly in this year's Paris tournament, Alcaraz became the first player since 1998 not to defeat Rafael Nadal without holding the title himself. Alcaraz paid a quick visit to Nadal's footprint plaque, long since placed on the Centre Court in honor of the 14-time Paris champion's emotional tribute speech.
Musetti Takes the Initiative
Entering the semifinals, Musetti aimed to build upon his accolades: victory at the 2023 Paris Olympics (losing to Djokovic in the semi-finals), and a bronze medal at Wimbledon 2024. In front of an enthusiastic 15,000 spectators, Musetti proved he was a worthy contender, securing the first set with a single break point.
As the second set started, Alcaraz upped his game, breaking at 2-1 to level the score. However, Musetti quickly responded, keeping the points tight and causing Alcaraz to dig deep for each point, earning a passionate outburst of frustration from the Spaniard at 3-4. With a grit-filled performance, Alcaraz secured the second set to head into the break tiebreaker.
Yet the momentum swiftly turned in the third set, with Musetti's energy gradually diminishing. Alcaraz seized the opportunity, using his physical edge to seal the match.
Sources: ntv.de, tsi/sid/dpa
- Carlos Alcaraz
- Tennis
- French Open
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In a gritty showdown, Carlos Alcaraz, the world's second-ranked tennis player, is set to face either Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic in the French Open final, following his victory over Lorenzo Musetti. Interestingly, Alcaraz's win marks the first time since 1998 that a player has reached the French Open final without defeating Rafael Nadal, highlighting the impressive pedigree of the young Spaniard in the world of tennis.
