Marc Marquez claims 99th career pole before home fans
Ducati's Marc Marquez has broken the lap record at the Aragon Grand Prix to clinch the 99th pole position of his career and fifth of the MotoGP season, pipping his brother Alex of Gresini Racing to top spot.
Championship leader Marc set the early pace on Saturday when he became the first rider to go under a minute and 46 seconds but the Spaniard was soon pushed down to third when Alex went fastest, followed by VR46 Racing's Franco Morbidelli.
But Marc put his head down and produced an aggressive lap, with his red Ducati sliding around some of the curves as he clocked one minute and 45.704 seconds at the MotorLand circuit.
"The first lap with the first tyre was clean. I just did one lap and then I stopped because I was already (one minute and) 45.9 without exaggerating, but then I exaggerated too much (on my next attempt)," Marc said.
"(I was) trying to be too fast, even lost time. Of course, the riding style for the main race and the sprint is different, but the lap was not the smoothest lap of my life."
Marc's fifth pole of the season put him in prime position to claim a record-extending seventh MotoGP victory at Aragon.
His team mate Francesco Bagnaia also struggled with stability on his bike but managed to go fourth fastest while Red Bull KTM's factory team riders Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder will join him on the second row on Sunday.
Australia's Jack Miller will start from 14th on his Pramac Yamaha.
Ducati's Marc Marquez has broken the lap record at the Aragon Grand Prix to clinch the 99th pole position of his career and fifth of the MotoGP season, pipping his brother Alex of Gresini Racing to top spot.
Championship leader Marc set the early pace on Saturday when he became the first rider to go under a minute and 46 seconds but the Spaniard was soon pushed down to third when Alex went fastest, followed by VR46 Racing's Franco Morbidelli.
But Marc put his head down and produced an aggressive lap, with his red Ducati sliding around some of the curves as he clocked one minute and 45.704 seconds at the MotorLand circuit.
"The first lap with the first tyre was clean. I just did one lap and then I stopped because I was already (one minute and) 45.9 without exaggerating, but then I exaggerated too much (on my next attempt)," Marc said.
"(I was) trying to be too fast, even lost time. Of course, the riding style for the main race and the sprint is different, but the lap was not the smoothest lap of my life."
Marc's fifth pole of the season put him in prime position to claim a record-extending seventh MotoGP victory at Aragon.
His team mate Francesco Bagnaia also struggled with stability on his bike but managed to go fourth fastest while Red Bull KTM's factory team riders Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder will join him on the second row on Sunday.
Australia's Jack Miller will start from 14th on his Pramac Yamaha.
Ducati's Marc Marquez has broken the lap record at the Aragon Grand Prix to clinch the 99th pole position of his career and fifth of the MotoGP season, pipping his brother Alex of Gresini Racing to top spot.
Championship leader Marc set the early pace on Saturday when he became the first rider to go under a minute and 46 seconds but the Spaniard was soon pushed down to third when Alex went fastest, followed by VR46 Racing's Franco Morbidelli.
But Marc put his head down and produced an aggressive lap, with his red Ducati sliding around some of the curves as he clocked one minute and 45.704 seconds at the MotorLand circuit.
"The first lap with the first tyre was clean. I just did one lap and then I stopped because I was already (one minute and) 45.9 without exaggerating, but then I exaggerated too much (on my next attempt)," Marc said.
"(I was) trying to be too fast, even lost time. Of course, the riding style for the main race and the sprint is different, but the lap was not the smoothest lap of my life."
Marc's fifth pole of the season put him in prime position to claim a record-extending seventh MotoGP victory at Aragon.
His team mate Francesco Bagnaia also struggled with stability on his bike but managed to go fourth fastest while Red Bull KTM's factory team riders Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder will join him on the second row on Sunday.
Australia's Jack Miller will start from 14th on his Pramac Yamaha.
Ducati's Marc Marquez has broken the lap record at the Aragon Grand Prix to clinch the 99th pole position of his career and fifth of the MotoGP season, pipping his brother Alex of Gresini Racing to top spot.
Championship leader Marc set the early pace on Saturday when he became the first rider to go under a minute and 46 seconds but the Spaniard was soon pushed down to third when Alex went fastest, followed by VR46 Racing's Franco Morbidelli.
But Marc put his head down and produced an aggressive lap, with his red Ducati sliding around some of the curves as he clocked one minute and 45.704 seconds at the MotorLand circuit.
"The first lap with the first tyre was clean. I just did one lap and then I stopped because I was already (one minute and) 45.9 without exaggerating, but then I exaggerated too much (on my next attempt)," Marc said.
"(I was) trying to be too fast, even lost time. Of course, the riding style for the main race and the sprint is different, but the lap was not the smoothest lap of my life."
Marc's fifth pole of the season put him in prime position to claim a record-extending seventh MotoGP victory at Aragon.
His team mate Francesco Bagnaia also struggled with stability on his bike but managed to go fourth fastest while Red Bull KTM's factory team riders Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder will join him on the second row on Sunday.
Australia's Jack Miller will start from 14th on his Pramac Yamaha.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Marc Marquez claims 99th career pole before home fans
Ducati's Marc Marquez has broken the lap record at the Aragon Grand Prix to clinch the 99th pole position of his career and fifth of the MotoGP season, pipping his brother Alex of Gresini Racing to top spot. Championship leader Marc set the early pace on Saturday when he became the first rider to go under a minute and 46 seconds but the Spaniard was soon pushed down to third when Alex went fastest, followed by VR46 Racing's Franco Morbidelli. But Marc put his head down and produced an aggressive lap, with his red Ducati sliding around some of the curves as he clocked one minute and 45.704 seconds at the MotorLand circuit. "The first lap with the first tyre was clean. I just did one lap and then I stopped because I was already (one minute and) 45.9 without exaggerating, but then I exaggerated too much (on my next attempt)," Marc said. "(I was) trying to be too fast, even lost time. Of course, the riding style for the main race and the sprint is different, but the lap was not the smoothest lap of my life." Marc's fifth pole of the season put him in prime position to claim a record-extending seventh MotoGP victory at Aragon. His team mate Francesco Bagnaia also struggled with stability on his bike but managed to go fourth fastest while Red Bull KTM's factory team riders Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder will join him on the second row on Sunday. Australia's Jack Miller will start from 14th on his Pramac Yamaha. Ducati's Marc Marquez has broken the lap record at the Aragon Grand Prix to clinch the 99th pole position of his career and fifth of the MotoGP season, pipping his brother Alex of Gresini Racing to top spot. Championship leader Marc set the early pace on Saturday when he became the first rider to go under a minute and 46 seconds but the Spaniard was soon pushed down to third when Alex went fastest, followed by VR46 Racing's Franco Morbidelli. But Marc put his head down and produced an aggressive lap, with his red Ducati sliding around some of the curves as he clocked one minute and 45.704 seconds at the MotorLand circuit. "The first lap with the first tyre was clean. I just did one lap and then I stopped because I was already (one minute and) 45.9 without exaggerating, but then I exaggerated too much (on my next attempt)," Marc said. "(I was) trying to be too fast, even lost time. Of course, the riding style for the main race and the sprint is different, but the lap was not the smoothest lap of my life." Marc's fifth pole of the season put him in prime position to claim a record-extending seventh MotoGP victory at Aragon. His team mate Francesco Bagnaia also struggled with stability on his bike but managed to go fourth fastest while Red Bull KTM's factory team riders Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder will join him on the second row on Sunday. Australia's Jack Miller will start from 14th on his Pramac Yamaha. Ducati's Marc Marquez has broken the lap record at the Aragon Grand Prix to clinch the 99th pole position of his career and fifth of the MotoGP season, pipping his brother Alex of Gresini Racing to top spot. Championship leader Marc set the early pace on Saturday when he became the first rider to go under a minute and 46 seconds but the Spaniard was soon pushed down to third when Alex went fastest, followed by VR46 Racing's Franco Morbidelli. But Marc put his head down and produced an aggressive lap, with his red Ducati sliding around some of the curves as he clocked one minute and 45.704 seconds at the MotorLand circuit. "The first lap with the first tyre was clean. I just did one lap and then I stopped because I was already (one minute and) 45.9 without exaggerating, but then I exaggerated too much (on my next attempt)," Marc said. "(I was) trying to be too fast, even lost time. Of course, the riding style for the main race and the sprint is different, but the lap was not the smoothest lap of my life." Marc's fifth pole of the season put him in prime position to claim a record-extending seventh MotoGP victory at Aragon. His team mate Francesco Bagnaia also struggled with stability on his bike but managed to go fourth fastest while Red Bull KTM's factory team riders Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder will join him on the second row on Sunday. Australia's Jack Miller will start from 14th on his Pramac Yamaha. Ducati's Marc Marquez has broken the lap record at the Aragon Grand Prix to clinch the 99th pole position of his career and fifth of the MotoGP season, pipping his brother Alex of Gresini Racing to top spot. Championship leader Marc set the early pace on Saturday when he became the first rider to go under a minute and 46 seconds but the Spaniard was soon pushed down to third when Alex went fastest, followed by VR46 Racing's Franco Morbidelli. But Marc put his head down and produced an aggressive lap, with his red Ducati sliding around some of the curves as he clocked one minute and 45.704 seconds at the MotorLand circuit. "The first lap with the first tyre was clean. I just did one lap and then I stopped because I was already (one minute and) 45.9 without exaggerating, but then I exaggerated too much (on my next attempt)," Marc said. "(I was) trying to be too fast, even lost time. Of course, the riding style for the main race and the sprint is different, but the lap was not the smoothest lap of my life." Marc's fifth pole of the season put him in prime position to claim a record-extending seventh MotoGP victory at Aragon. His team mate Francesco Bagnaia also struggled with stability on his bike but managed to go fourth fastest while Red Bull KTM's factory team riders Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder will join him on the second row on Sunday. Australia's Jack Miller will start from 14th on his Pramac Yamaha.
The Advertiser
14 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Sinner embraces burgeoning rivalry with Alcaraz
Jannik Sinner believes his battle for supremacy with fellow French Open finalist Carlos Alcaraz could become the defining rivalry of their era. And the world No.1 believes it is something the sport needs with its golden generation of players calling time on their careers. Sinner beat Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-5 7-6 (7-3) in a generational battle on Court Philippe Chatrier to deny his Serbian opponent a record 25th grand slam and leave him unsure whether he will ever return to Roland Garros, where he has won three major trophies. The 23-year-old Italian, who is seeking his fourth grand slam title, booked a mouth-watering meeting with his main rival Alcaraz, who will aim to retain his crown at Roland Garros and add a fifth major crown to his trophy cabinet. With Djokovic now the only active member of tennis's Big Four that also included Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray and yielded a collective 69 major titles in more than two decades, Sinner sensed an opportunity for himself and Alcaraz. "It takes time to compare us with the Big Three or Big Four, no? Only time can tell, to be honest," Sinner told reporters. "For sure, from my point of view, he's a player who makes me a better player. He pushes me to the limit. We try to understand where we have to improve, for the next times I play against him. "I believe that tennis or every sport needs rivalries. This could be potentially one of them, but there are amazing players coming up. There can be so many different and other players joining or one drops. You never know." Sunday's clash on Court Philippe Chatrier will mark only the 12th time Sinner and Alcaraz have faced off, with the 22-year-old Spaniard looking for a fifth straight victory over his opponent to successfully defend his title. Djokovic said the pair would have to keep going to match the rivalry he had with Federer, Nadal and Murray. "At the moment, that's hard, because they need to play against each for at least 10-plus years non-stop in order to be part of the same discussion," Djokovic added. "But they're definitely great for tennis, both of them. I think their rivalry is something our sport needs." Sinner said he and Alcaraz had a similar aura and could get more fans interested in the sport. "He's a player with charisma, with that aura," Sinner said. "The moment he steps on court, you can feel his presence. In the end, that's exactly what tennis needs. The more people like that, the more players like that, the better. "In the end, it's exactly those players who bring people closer to the sport and make them want to watch tennis." Sinner extended his winning streak in grand slams to 20 matches, after winning the US Open and the Australian Open. In the earlier semi-final, Alcaraz led 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 2-0 against Lorenzo Musetti when the eighth-seeded Italian retired with a leg injury. Alcaraz is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century, after Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten. 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 advance. "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." Jannik Sinner believes his battle for supremacy with fellow French Open finalist Carlos Alcaraz could become the defining rivalry of their era. And the world No.1 believes it is something the sport needs with its golden generation of players calling time on their careers. Sinner beat Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-5 7-6 (7-3) in a generational battle on Court Philippe Chatrier to deny his Serbian opponent a record 25th grand slam and leave him unsure whether he will ever return to Roland Garros, where he has won three major trophies. The 23-year-old Italian, who is seeking his fourth grand slam title, booked a mouth-watering meeting with his main rival Alcaraz, who will aim to retain his crown at Roland Garros and add a fifth major crown to his trophy cabinet. With Djokovic now the only active member of tennis's Big Four that also included Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray and yielded a collective 69 major titles in more than two decades, Sinner sensed an opportunity for himself and Alcaraz. "It takes time to compare us with the Big Three or Big Four, no? Only time can tell, to be honest," Sinner told reporters. "For sure, from my point of view, he's a player who makes me a better player. He pushes me to the limit. We try to understand where we have to improve, for the next times I play against him. "I believe that tennis or every sport needs rivalries. This could be potentially one of them, but there are amazing players coming up. There can be so many different and other players joining or one drops. You never know." Sunday's clash on Court Philippe Chatrier will mark only the 12th time Sinner and Alcaraz have faced off, with the 22-year-old Spaniard looking for a fifth straight victory over his opponent to successfully defend his title. Djokovic said the pair would have to keep going to match the rivalry he had with Federer, Nadal and Murray. "At the moment, that's hard, because they need to play against each for at least 10-plus years non-stop in order to be part of the same discussion," Djokovic added. "But they're definitely great for tennis, both of them. I think their rivalry is something our sport needs." Sinner said he and Alcaraz had a similar aura and could get more fans interested in the sport. "He's a player with charisma, with that aura," Sinner said. "The moment he steps on court, you can feel his presence. In the end, that's exactly what tennis needs. The more people like that, the more players like that, the better. "In the end, it's exactly those players who bring people closer to the sport and make them want to watch tennis." Sinner extended his winning streak in grand slams to 20 matches, after winning the US Open and the Australian Open. In the earlier semi-final, Alcaraz led 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 2-0 against Lorenzo Musetti when the eighth-seeded Italian retired with a leg injury. Alcaraz is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century, after Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten. 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 advance. "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." Jannik Sinner believes his battle for supremacy with fellow French Open finalist Carlos Alcaraz could become the defining rivalry of their era. And the world No.1 believes it is something the sport needs with its golden generation of players calling time on their careers. Sinner beat Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-5 7-6 (7-3) in a generational battle on Court Philippe Chatrier to deny his Serbian opponent a record 25th grand slam and leave him unsure whether he will ever return to Roland Garros, where he has won three major trophies. The 23-year-old Italian, who is seeking his fourth grand slam title, booked a mouth-watering meeting with his main rival Alcaraz, who will aim to retain his crown at Roland Garros and add a fifth major crown to his trophy cabinet. With Djokovic now the only active member of tennis's Big Four that also included Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray and yielded a collective 69 major titles in more than two decades, Sinner sensed an opportunity for himself and Alcaraz. "It takes time to compare us with the Big Three or Big Four, no? Only time can tell, to be honest," Sinner told reporters. "For sure, from my point of view, he's a player who makes me a better player. He pushes me to the limit. We try to understand where we have to improve, for the next times I play against him. "I believe that tennis or every sport needs rivalries. This could be potentially one of them, but there are amazing players coming up. There can be so many different and other players joining or one drops. You never know." Sunday's clash on Court Philippe Chatrier will mark only the 12th time Sinner and Alcaraz have faced off, with the 22-year-old Spaniard looking for a fifth straight victory over his opponent to successfully defend his title. Djokovic said the pair would have to keep going to match the rivalry he had with Federer, Nadal and Murray. "At the moment, that's hard, because they need to play against each for at least 10-plus years non-stop in order to be part of the same discussion," Djokovic added. "But they're definitely great for tennis, both of them. I think their rivalry is something our sport needs." Sinner said he and Alcaraz had a similar aura and could get more fans interested in the sport. "He's a player with charisma, with that aura," Sinner said. "The moment he steps on court, you can feel his presence. In the end, that's exactly what tennis needs. The more people like that, the more players like that, the better. "In the end, it's exactly those players who bring people closer to the sport and make them want to watch tennis." Sinner extended his winning streak in grand slams to 20 matches, after winning the US Open and the Australian Open. In the earlier semi-final, Alcaraz led 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 2-0 against Lorenzo Musetti when the eighth-seeded Italian retired with a leg injury. Alcaraz is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century, after Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten. 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 advance. "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." Jannik Sinner believes his battle for supremacy with fellow French Open finalist Carlos Alcaraz could become the defining rivalry of their era. And the world No.1 believes it is something the sport needs with its golden generation of players calling time on their careers. Sinner beat Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-5 7-6 (7-3) in a generational battle on Court Philippe Chatrier to deny his Serbian opponent a record 25th grand slam and leave him unsure whether he will ever return to Roland Garros, where he has won three major trophies. The 23-year-old Italian, who is seeking his fourth grand slam title, booked a mouth-watering meeting with his main rival Alcaraz, who will aim to retain his crown at Roland Garros and add a fifth major crown to his trophy cabinet. With Djokovic now the only active member of tennis's Big Four that also included Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray and yielded a collective 69 major titles in more than two decades, Sinner sensed an opportunity for himself and Alcaraz. "It takes time to compare us with the Big Three or Big Four, no? Only time can tell, to be honest," Sinner told reporters. "For sure, from my point of view, he's a player who makes me a better player. He pushes me to the limit. We try to understand where we have to improve, for the next times I play against him. "I believe that tennis or every sport needs rivalries. This could be potentially one of them, but there are amazing players coming up. There can be so many different and other players joining or one drops. You never know." Sunday's clash on Court Philippe Chatrier will mark only the 12th time Sinner and Alcaraz have faced off, with the 22-year-old Spaniard looking for a fifth straight victory over his opponent to successfully defend his title. Djokovic said the pair would have to keep going to match the rivalry he had with Federer, Nadal and Murray. "At the moment, that's hard, because they need to play against each for at least 10-plus years non-stop in order to be part of the same discussion," Djokovic added. "But they're definitely great for tennis, both of them. I think their rivalry is something our sport needs." Sinner said he and Alcaraz had a similar aura and could get more fans interested in the sport. "He's a player with charisma, with that aura," Sinner said. "The moment he steps on court, you can feel his presence. In the end, that's exactly what tennis needs. The more people like that, the more players like that, the better. "In the end, it's exactly those players who bring people closer to the sport and make them want to watch tennis." Sinner extended his winning streak in grand slams to 20 matches, after winning the US Open and the Australian Open. In the earlier semi-final, Alcaraz led 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 2-0 against Lorenzo Musetti when the eighth-seeded Italian retired with a leg injury. Alcaraz is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century, after Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten. 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 advance. "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."
The Advertiser
4 days ago
- The Advertiser
Musetti survives disqualification row to reach semis
Italy's Lorenzo Musetti reached his first semi-final at the French Open, and second at a grand slam, by beating Frances Tiafoe 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-2. The 23-year-old will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz for a place in Sunday's final after the Spaniard beat Tommy Paul 6-0 6-1 6-4. The No.8 seed was lucky not to be disqualified after kicking a ball at a line judge, however. In the second set against Tiafoe, Musetti kicked the ball in frustration and it hit the female line judge, standing about three metres away, in the chest. Tiafoe looked stunned at the other end of the court and gestured towards the umpire, who eventually gave Musetti a code violation. There were echoes of Novak Djokovic being defaulted at the 2020 US Open after accidentally hitting a female line judge with a ball. Later, Tiafoe said: "I mean, obviously he did that and nothing happened. I think that's comical, but it is what it is. "Nothing happened, so there's nothing really to talk about. Obviously it's not consistent, so it is what it is." Musetti did not let the incident affect him as he moved to victory in four sets. He is now 13-4 in his French Open career, and three of those losses came against an opponent ranked No.1 — Novak Djokovic twice, Alcaraz once. The only way he'll need to deal with the top-ranked man again in Paris is if it's his pal Jannik Sinner standing across the net on Sunday with the trophy in the offing. Musetti is one of the rare top players using the single-handed backhand, a vintage shot often praised by tennis connoisseurs. "We are Italian, we are elegant," he joked afterwards. Musetti will meet Alcaraz, who steamrollered American No.12 seed Paul for the loss of five games in another one-sided night match. Paul's right thigh was heavily strapped and he was unable to produce his best tennis. "I'm sorry you wanted to watch more tennis. I had to do my work," Alcaraz told the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd. With agencies Italy's Lorenzo Musetti reached his first semi-final at the French Open, and second at a grand slam, by beating Frances Tiafoe 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-2. The 23-year-old will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz for a place in Sunday's final after the Spaniard beat Tommy Paul 6-0 6-1 6-4. The No.8 seed was lucky not to be disqualified after kicking a ball at a line judge, however. In the second set against Tiafoe, Musetti kicked the ball in frustration and it hit the female line judge, standing about three metres away, in the chest. Tiafoe looked stunned at the other end of the court and gestured towards the umpire, who eventually gave Musetti a code violation. There were echoes of Novak Djokovic being defaulted at the 2020 US Open after accidentally hitting a female line judge with a ball. Later, Tiafoe said: "I mean, obviously he did that and nothing happened. I think that's comical, but it is what it is. "Nothing happened, so there's nothing really to talk about. Obviously it's not consistent, so it is what it is." Musetti did not let the incident affect him as he moved to victory in four sets. He is now 13-4 in his French Open career, and three of those losses came against an opponent ranked No.1 — Novak Djokovic twice, Alcaraz once. The only way he'll need to deal with the top-ranked man again in Paris is if it's his pal Jannik Sinner standing across the net on Sunday with the trophy in the offing. Musetti is one of the rare top players using the single-handed backhand, a vintage shot often praised by tennis connoisseurs. "We are Italian, we are elegant," he joked afterwards. Musetti will meet Alcaraz, who steamrollered American No.12 seed Paul for the loss of five games in another one-sided night match. Paul's right thigh was heavily strapped and he was unable to produce his best tennis. "I'm sorry you wanted to watch more tennis. I had to do my work," Alcaraz told the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd. With agencies Italy's Lorenzo Musetti reached his first semi-final at the French Open, and second at a grand slam, by beating Frances Tiafoe 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-2. The 23-year-old will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz for a place in Sunday's final after the Spaniard beat Tommy Paul 6-0 6-1 6-4. The No.8 seed was lucky not to be disqualified after kicking a ball at a line judge, however. In the second set against Tiafoe, Musetti kicked the ball in frustration and it hit the female line judge, standing about three metres away, in the chest. Tiafoe looked stunned at the other end of the court and gestured towards the umpire, who eventually gave Musetti a code violation. There were echoes of Novak Djokovic being defaulted at the 2020 US Open after accidentally hitting a female line judge with a ball. Later, Tiafoe said: "I mean, obviously he did that and nothing happened. I think that's comical, but it is what it is. "Nothing happened, so there's nothing really to talk about. Obviously it's not consistent, so it is what it is." Musetti did not let the incident affect him as he moved to victory in four sets. He is now 13-4 in his French Open career, and three of those losses came against an opponent ranked No.1 — Novak Djokovic twice, Alcaraz once. The only way he'll need to deal with the top-ranked man again in Paris is if it's his pal Jannik Sinner standing across the net on Sunday with the trophy in the offing. Musetti is one of the rare top players using the single-handed backhand, a vintage shot often praised by tennis connoisseurs. "We are Italian, we are elegant," he joked afterwards. Musetti will meet Alcaraz, who steamrollered American No.12 seed Paul for the loss of five games in another one-sided night match. Paul's right thigh was heavily strapped and he was unable to produce his best tennis. "I'm sorry you wanted to watch more tennis. I had to do my work," Alcaraz told the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd. With agencies Italy's Lorenzo Musetti reached his first semi-final at the French Open, and second at a grand slam, by beating Frances Tiafoe 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-2. The 23-year-old will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz for a place in Sunday's final after the Spaniard beat Tommy Paul 6-0 6-1 6-4. The No.8 seed was lucky not to be disqualified after kicking a ball at a line judge, however. In the second set against Tiafoe, Musetti kicked the ball in frustration and it hit the female line judge, standing about three metres away, in the chest. Tiafoe looked stunned at the other end of the court and gestured towards the umpire, who eventually gave Musetti a code violation. There were echoes of Novak Djokovic being defaulted at the 2020 US Open after accidentally hitting a female line judge with a ball. Later, Tiafoe said: "I mean, obviously he did that and nothing happened. I think that's comical, but it is what it is. "Nothing happened, so there's nothing really to talk about. Obviously it's not consistent, so it is what it is." Musetti did not let the incident affect him as he moved to victory in four sets. He is now 13-4 in his French Open career, and three of those losses came against an opponent ranked No.1 — Novak Djokovic twice, Alcaraz once. The only way he'll need to deal with the top-ranked man again in Paris is if it's his pal Jannik Sinner standing across the net on Sunday with the trophy in the offing. Musetti is one of the rare top players using the single-handed backhand, a vintage shot often praised by tennis connoisseurs. "We are Italian, we are elegant," he joked afterwards. Musetti will meet Alcaraz, who steamrollered American No.12 seed Paul for the loss of five games in another one-sided night match. Paul's right thigh was heavily strapped and he was unable to produce his best tennis. "I'm sorry you wanted to watch more tennis. I had to do my work," Alcaraz told the Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd. With agencies
