Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz sealed his back-to-back French Open final berth after Lorenzo Musetti, was forced to retire due to injury in the semifinal clash. At the time of his withdrawal, Musetti was trailing 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-0, 2-0. The Italian player appeared to be hampered by a thigh issue towards the end of the match, preventing him from continuing. This unfortunate turn of events brought an end to what had been a strong clay-court season for Musetti.
Now, Alcaraz stands just one match away from claiming his fifth Grand Slam title and his second at Roland Garros. However, he will undoubtedly need to elevate his game for the final, where he is set to face either Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic. In the first two sets of his semi-final, the Spaniard seemed to be below his peak performance, exhibiting impatient play and committing a number of errors. With two days to prepare for the final, which will be held in Paris, France, Alcaraz will certainly be aiming to be in top form.
In their French Open semifinal clash, Lorenzo Musetti managed to fend off break point opportunities in the first and seventh games of the opening set. He then seized the initiative, securing a break in the tenth game to take the lead.
The second set saw both Alcaraz and Musetti exchange breaks early on. Subsequently, Alcaraz found himself in a position to serve out the set and level the match. However, Musetti showcased some inspired tennis, breaking back at 15 to force a tie-break. Despite this resurgence, Alcaraz dominated the tie-break, clinching it on his third set point when Musetti's attempted passing shot found the net. This victory allowed the Spaniard to level the match at one set apiece.
Alcaraz carried his momentum into the third set, quickly establishing a 2-0 lead. Musetti struggled to handle the power coming from across the net and briefly sought medical attention for his left thigh. Alcaraz then proceeded to dominate the set, allowing Musetti to win a mere five points in a swift 22 minutes.
The fourth set began with Alcaraz securing another break early on, courtesy of a powerful forehand return into the corner. Immediately after this, the 23-year-old Musetti approached the net to concede the match by shaking his opponent's hand.
As this semi-final concluded in Paris, France, the focus now shifts to the second semi-final. Novak Djokovic continues his quest for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title as he faces Jannik Sinner, who is aiming to reach his maiden French Open final. Sinner has impressed throughout the tournament, reaching the final four without dropping a set. Meanwhile, Djokovic demonstrated his form with a four-set victory over last year's runner-up, Alexander Zverev, in the quarter-finals. It is currently Friday night, June 6, 2025, in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, and tennis fans worldwide are eagerly anticipating the outcome of this crucial match to determine Alcaraz's opponent in the French Open final.
"It's never great to go through or win a match when it's like this. He's done an incredible clay season. I wish him all the best, a quick recovery and that he'll be back soon," Alcaraz said after the match.