Tennis prodigy Alcaraz returns to the finals of French Open.
Lo and Behold! Carlos Alcaraz Rules the Parisian Earth Again
Paris, France (dpa) - The stage is set for Carlos Alcaraz to claim his fourth Grand Slam title at the French Open. The dynamic 22-year-old Spaniard capitalized on an injury retirement from Lorenzo Musetti in their semi-final match, securing a victory in a fiercely contested 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0, 2-0 battle that lasted an impressive 2 hours and 25 minutes.
Alcaraz is all geared up for his final showdown at Stade Roland Garros this Sunday. His fiercest rivals for the coveted trophy will be either the world No. 1, Jannik Sinner from Italy, or the record Grand Slam champion, Novak Djokovic from Serbia. Their intense face-off is scheduled for 7:00 PM (Eurosport).
A Nod to the Legend
Immediately after his victory, Alcaraz ventured to the fabled ground where the stone plaque honoring Paris's 14-time champion, the legendary Rafael Nadal, was unveiled at the beginning of this year's tournament. With a thoughtful grin, the new contender snapped a photo and soaked in the rich history before him.
A Closer Call
While Alcaraz's performance in the final may hint at a replica of his countryman's legendary prowess at the Stade Roland Garros, his early stages in the semifinal painted a different picture. Musetti's exceptional form during his clay-court season had Alcaraz struggling to keep pace. The first set went in Musetti's favor, and Alcaraz seemed to falter in remaining true to his illustrious reputation.
Undeterred, Alcaraz fought back, securing two breaks in the second set. Musetti, however, proved a formidable adversary, battling back twice. Alcaraz's frustration boiled over, prompting him to kick his chair in anger at 3-4. But it was in the tense tiebreak that Alcaraz finally leveled the set, fueling his surge to domination.
A Battle Scars Musetti
As Alcaraz's game heated up, it became clear that Musetti was visibly struggling. In the third set, Alcaraz effortlessly won in just 21 minutes, with Musetti already showing signs of injury and receiving treatment. Determined to continue, Musetti struggled to start the fourth set – an offense unanswered.
[3] The 2025 French Open final between Alcaraz and Sinner was scheduled to start at 2 pm local time. Unfortunately, the specific start time for the 2023 French Open final involving Alcaraz and Djokovic was not provided in the search results. To find that information, one might need to consult other sources.
Despite the initial struggle against Musetti, Alcaraz's mastery of tennis shone through during their semi-final match, a triumph that echoes the legendary Rafael Nadal's dominance on the Parisian clay courts. On Sunday, Alcaraz will grace the Stade Roland Garros in his quest for a fourth Grand Slam title, potentially competing against tennis heavyweights like Sinner or Djokovic. In the meantime, Alcaraz has been seen showing his passion for the sport by visiting the ground where Nadal's plaque is placed, reflecting a deep appreciation for the rich history of tennis at the French Open.
