King Carlos continues to cruise on clay
Tennis: Carlos Alcaraz's chase for back-to-back French Open crowns is well underway, with the Spaniard cruising into the semi finals.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Alcaraz reaches French Open final after Musetti retires
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has reached back-to-back French Open finals after Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired with injury while trailing 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 2-0. Alcaraz is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century, after Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, "It's never great to go through like this," Alcaraz said, before hailing Musetti's achievement of reaching at least the semi-finals of all four elite claycourt events this year. "He's a great player, he has had an incredible claycourt season ... I wish him a speedy recovery and I'm sure we'll be enjoying his tennis pretty soon." Musetti twice denied Alcaraz the chance to break in the opening nine games before the 23-year-old suddenly dialled up the intensity and snatched the opening set when his Spanish opponent produced errors in a poor service game. A frustrated Alcaraz kicked his bench during the second set but finally found a way through Musetti's dogged defence to draw level after a tiebreak and then produced a dazzling display of power and precision to dish out a bagel in the third set. Musetti, who appeared to be hampered by a left thigh issue midway through the third set, threw in the towel after two games in the fourth. "The first two sets were tough. I had chances to be up in the match but couldn't make the most of them," Alcaraz added. "When I won the second set, I was relieved and I knew that I needed to be aggressive and be myself. I was calmer. I could see clearer and I could play great tennis at the start of the third. "I'm feeling great physically. It's been three intense weeks but I have one more step to take. I'm playing great tennis and I have great confidence. I've been doing great things in this tournament and now is the time to give 100 per cent in the final." Alcaraz said he would tune into the second semi-final on Court Philippe Chatrier to watch world No.1 Jannik Sinner take on 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and study his opponent for Sunday's final. "I'm not going to miss tonight's match, it's one of the best we can have right now, Sinner against Djokovic," he said. "I'm going to watch it and enjoy it and take tactics from the match." Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has reached back-to-back French Open finals after Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired with injury while trailing 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 2-0. Alcaraz is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century, after Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, "It's never great to go through like this," Alcaraz said, before hailing Musetti's achievement of reaching at least the semi-finals of all four elite claycourt events this year. "He's a great player, he has had an incredible claycourt season ... I wish him a speedy recovery and I'm sure we'll be enjoying his tennis pretty soon." Musetti twice denied Alcaraz the chance to break in the opening nine games before the 23-year-old suddenly dialled up the intensity and snatched the opening set when his Spanish opponent produced errors in a poor service game. A frustrated Alcaraz kicked his bench during the second set but finally found a way through Musetti's dogged defence to draw level after a tiebreak and then produced a dazzling display of power and precision to dish out a bagel in the third set. Musetti, who appeared to be hampered by a left thigh issue midway through the third set, threw in the towel after two games in the fourth. "The first two sets were tough. I had chances to be up in the match but couldn't make the most of them," Alcaraz added. "When I won the second set, I was relieved and I knew that I needed to be aggressive and be myself. I was calmer. I could see clearer and I could play great tennis at the start of the third. "I'm feeling great physically. It's been three intense weeks but I have one more step to take. I'm playing great tennis and I have great confidence. I've been doing great things in this tournament and now is the time to give 100 per cent in the final." Alcaraz said he would tune into the second semi-final on Court Philippe Chatrier to watch world No.1 Jannik Sinner take on 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and study his opponent for Sunday's final. "I'm not going to miss tonight's match, it's one of the best we can have right now, Sinner against Djokovic," he said. "I'm going to watch it and enjoy it and take tactics from the match." Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has reached back-to-back French Open finals after Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired with injury while trailing 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 2-0. Alcaraz is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century, after Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, "It's never great to go through like this," Alcaraz said, before hailing Musetti's achievement of reaching at least the semi-finals of all four elite claycourt events this year. "He's a great player, he has had an incredible claycourt season ... I wish him a speedy recovery and I'm sure we'll be enjoying his tennis pretty soon." Musetti twice denied Alcaraz the chance to break in the opening nine games before the 23-year-old suddenly dialled up the intensity and snatched the opening set when his Spanish opponent produced errors in a poor service game. A frustrated Alcaraz kicked his bench during the second set but finally found a way through Musetti's dogged defence to draw level after a tiebreak and then produced a dazzling display of power and precision to dish out a bagel in the third set. Musetti, who appeared to be hampered by a left thigh issue midway through the third set, threw in the towel after two games in the fourth. "The first two sets were tough. I had chances to be up in the match but couldn't make the most of them," Alcaraz added. "When I won the second set, I was relieved and I knew that I needed to be aggressive and be myself. I was calmer. I could see clearer and I could play great tennis at the start of the third. "I'm feeling great physically. It's been three intense weeks but I have one more step to take. I'm playing great tennis and I have great confidence. I've been doing great things in this tournament and now is the time to give 100 per cent in the final." Alcaraz said he would tune into the second semi-final on Court Philippe Chatrier to watch world No.1 Jannik Sinner take on 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and study his opponent for Sunday's final. "I'm not going to miss tonight's match, it's one of the best we can have right now, Sinner against Djokovic," he said. "I'm going to watch it and enjoy it and take tactics from the match." Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has reached back-to-back French Open finals after Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired with injury while trailing 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 2-0. Alcaraz is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century, after Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, "It's never great to go through like this," Alcaraz said, before hailing Musetti's achievement of reaching at least the semi-finals of all four elite claycourt events this year. "He's a great player, he has had an incredible claycourt season ... I wish him a speedy recovery and I'm sure we'll be enjoying his tennis pretty soon." Musetti twice denied Alcaraz the chance to break in the opening nine games before the 23-year-old suddenly dialled up the intensity and snatched the opening set when his Spanish opponent produced errors in a poor service game. A frustrated Alcaraz kicked his bench during the second set but finally found a way through Musetti's dogged defence to draw level after a tiebreak and then produced a dazzling display of power and precision to dish out a bagel in the third set. Musetti, who appeared to be hampered by a left thigh issue midway through the third set, threw in the towel after two games in the fourth. "The first two sets were tough. I had chances to be up in the match but couldn't make the most of them," Alcaraz added. "When I won the second set, I was relieved and I knew that I needed to be aggressive and be myself. I was calmer. I could see clearer and I could play great tennis at the start of the third. "I'm feeling great physically. It's been three intense weeks but I have one more step to take. I'm playing great tennis and I have great confidence. I've been doing great things in this tournament and now is the time to give 100 per cent in the final." Alcaraz said he would tune into the second semi-final on Court Philippe Chatrier to watch world No.1 Jannik Sinner take on 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and study his opponent for Sunday's final. "I'm not going to miss tonight's match, it's one of the best we can have right now, Sinner against Djokovic," he said. "I'm going to watch it and enjoy it and take tactics from the match."
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Jones misses out on French Open girls final dream
Emerson Jones' dreams of becoming the first Australian to win the French Open girls' singles title in 57 years are over. The Gold Coast local, who turns 17 on July 7, has fallen at the semi-final stage, bowing out to Lilli Tagger 6-4 7-6 (7-5). The 17-year-old Austrian also dented Jones' hopes of regaining her junior world No.1 ranking and denied her the chance to take on her doubles partner in Saturday's final. Britain's Hannah Klugman won through to her maiden grand slam final after a resilient 1-6 6-3 6-3 defeat of Bulgarian Rositsa Dencheva. She is the first British player to reach a French Open juniors final in almost 50 years. Jones had hoped to make history herself. Australia's last winner of the girls singles title at Roland Garros was Perth-born Lesley Hunt, who triumphed in 1968. She accounted for Capucine Jauffret, of the United States, and Czechia's Vendula Valdmannova, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, both in three sets earlier in the week. Then came a straight-sets victory over Spain's Charo Esquiva Banuls on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals, where she beat another American Julieta Pareja, the No.9 seed, 7-5 6-4. But although she had beaten Tagger at this year's Australian Open in a hard-fought 4-6 6-2 6-2 quarter-final tussle, this time the Austrian had the answers. Emerson Jones' dreams of becoming the first Australian to win the French Open girls' singles title in 57 years are over. The Gold Coast local, who turns 17 on July 7, has fallen at the semi-final stage, bowing out to Lilli Tagger 6-4 7-6 (7-5). The 17-year-old Austrian also dented Jones' hopes of regaining her junior world No.1 ranking and denied her the chance to take on her doubles partner in Saturday's final. Britain's Hannah Klugman won through to her maiden grand slam final after a resilient 1-6 6-3 6-3 defeat of Bulgarian Rositsa Dencheva. She is the first British player to reach a French Open juniors final in almost 50 years. Jones had hoped to make history herself. Australia's last winner of the girls singles title at Roland Garros was Perth-born Lesley Hunt, who triumphed in 1968. She accounted for Capucine Jauffret, of the United States, and Czechia's Vendula Valdmannova, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, both in three sets earlier in the week. Then came a straight-sets victory over Spain's Charo Esquiva Banuls on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals, where she beat another American Julieta Pareja, the No.9 seed, 7-5 6-4. But although she had beaten Tagger at this year's Australian Open in a hard-fought 4-6 6-2 6-2 quarter-final tussle, this time the Austrian had the answers. Emerson Jones' dreams of becoming the first Australian to win the French Open girls' singles title in 57 years are over. The Gold Coast local, who turns 17 on July 7, has fallen at the semi-final stage, bowing out to Lilli Tagger 6-4 7-6 (7-5). The 17-year-old Austrian also dented Jones' hopes of regaining her junior world No.1 ranking and denied her the chance to take on her doubles partner in Saturday's final. Britain's Hannah Klugman won through to her maiden grand slam final after a resilient 1-6 6-3 6-3 defeat of Bulgarian Rositsa Dencheva. She is the first British player to reach a French Open juniors final in almost 50 years. Jones had hoped to make history herself. Australia's last winner of the girls singles title at Roland Garros was Perth-born Lesley Hunt, who triumphed in 1968. She accounted for Capucine Jauffret, of the United States, and Czechia's Vendula Valdmannova, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, both in three sets earlier in the week. Then came a straight-sets victory over Spain's Charo Esquiva Banuls on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals, where she beat another American Julieta Pareja, the No.9 seed, 7-5 6-4. But although she had beaten Tagger at this year's Australian Open in a hard-fought 4-6 6-2 6-2 quarter-final tussle, this time the Austrian had the answers. Emerson Jones' dreams of becoming the first Australian to win the French Open girls' singles title in 57 years are over. The Gold Coast local, who turns 17 on July 7, has fallen at the semi-final stage, bowing out to Lilli Tagger 6-4 7-6 (7-5). The 17-year-old Austrian also dented Jones' hopes of regaining her junior world No.1 ranking and denied her the chance to take on her doubles partner in Saturday's final. Britain's Hannah Klugman won through to her maiden grand slam final after a resilient 1-6 6-3 6-3 defeat of Bulgarian Rositsa Dencheva. She is the first British player to reach a French Open juniors final in almost 50 years. Jones had hoped to make history herself. Australia's last winner of the girls singles title at Roland Garros was Perth-born Lesley Hunt, who triumphed in 1968. She accounted for Capucine Jauffret, of the United States, and Czechia's Vendula Valdmannova, a Wimbledon semi-finalist last year, both in three sets earlier in the week. Then came a straight-sets victory over Spain's Charo Esquiva Banuls on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals, where she beat another American Julieta Pareja, the No.9 seed, 7-5 6-4. But although she had beaten Tagger at this year's Australian Open in a hard-fought 4-6 6-2 6-2 quarter-final tussle, this time the Austrian had the answers.
West Australian
3 hours ago
- West Australian
Alcaraz reaches French Open final after Musetti retires
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz has reached back-to-back French Open finals after Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired with injury while trailing 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 2-0. Alcaraz is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century, after Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, "It's never great to go through like this," Alcaraz said, before hailing Musetti's achievement of reaching at least the semi-finals of all four elite claycourt events this year. "He's a great player, he has had an incredible claycourt season ... I wish him a speedy recovery and I'm sure we'll be enjoying his tennis pretty soon." Musetti twice denied Alcaraz the chance to break in the opening nine games before the 23-year-old suddenly dialled up the intensity and snatched the opening set when his Spanish opponent produced errors in a poor service game. A frustrated Alcaraz kicked his bench during the second set but finally found a way through Musetti's dogged defence to draw level after a tiebreak and then produced a dazzling display of power and precision to dish out a bagel in the third set. Musetti, who appeared to be hampered by a left thigh issue midway through the third set, threw in the towel after two games in the fourth. "The first two sets were tough. I had chances to be up in the match but couldn't make the most of them," Alcaraz added. "When I won the second set, I was relieved and I knew that I needed to be aggressive and be myself. I was calmer. I could see clearer and I could play great tennis at the start of the third. "I'm feeling great physically. It's been three intense weeks but I have one more step to take. I'm playing great tennis and I have great confidence. I've been doing great things in this tournament and now is the time to give 100 per cent in the final." Alcaraz said he would tune into the second semi-final on Court Philippe Chatrier to watch world No.1 Jannik Sinner take on 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic and study his opponent for Sunday's final. "I'm not going to miss tonight's match, it's one of the best we can have right now, Sinner against Djokovic," he said. "I'm going to watch it and enjoy it and take tactics from the match."
