Carlos Alcaraz into French Open final after Lorenzo Musetti retires injured

New York Times

11 hours ago

ROLAND GARROS, PARIS — This wasn't a statement French Open performance from Carlos Alcaraz, but in wearing down Lorenzo Musetti to reach his second consecutive final, he delivered a reminder of the gulf that exists between those at the very top of men's tennis and the rest.
For a couple of sets, the No. 8 seed Musetti lived with the defending Roland Garros champion, before succumbing 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-0, 2-0 (ret). It was a sad way for the match to end, underlining the challenge of trying to live with Alcaraz for more than a couple of sets — especially on clay, where he has lost just two of his last 24 matches.
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It felt eerily reminiscent of the final in Monte Carlo a couple of months ago, which Alcaraz won 3-6, 6-1, 6-0. On both occasions Musetti faded physically, which is not something that happens in isolation. Trying to live with Alcaraz is a gargantuan task, and it was one the Italian never looked like passing from the moment he lost a second-set tiebreak, missing the chance to take a two-sets lead.
Like all great champions, Alcaraz has developed a welcome knack for picking up wins even when not playing his best. He did it again Friday, when for a couple of sets, it looked as though Alcaraz might sleepwalk into jeopardy under the roof on Court Philippe-Chatrier. He generally had the better of the opener, but failed to take a couple of break points and was then ambushed by Musetti when serving to stay in it down 5-4. Alcaraz missed five first serves, and the Italian, swinging freely, pinched the break and the set.
Having only made 41 percent of his first serves in the first set, Alcaraz knew he had to tighten up that area of his game. He did it to an extent, getting up to 65 percent, but the greater margin reduced some of his potency, with his first-serve points won percentage dropping to 63 per cent from 73 per cent in the first set. Although Alcaraz broke Musetti at the start of the second set and towards the end of it, he was broken back immediately on both occasions.
It felt as though the ensuing tiebreak would be crucial, and so it proved. Alcaraz rolled through it, and the thing that Musetti had been fearing would happen all match happened. Alcaraz loosened up, started grinning, and began to enjoy himself.
Having clinched the tie-break with the help of a Roger Federer-esque forehand slice, he was hitting the ball much more freely, which meant both more power and invention. Alcaraz raced to a 5-0 lead in the third set, at which point Musetti required medical treatment at the change of ends. Moments later they were sitting down again, with Alcaraz having wrapped up a bagel 6-0 set.
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Two games later, it was all over, and Alcaraz now has the chance to defend his title. He'll face either world No. 1 Jannik Sinner or 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, and said he would be watching their semifinal on Friday night.
Alcaraz knows he'll have to be a lot better whoever he faces Sunday, but he also knows very well how to peak at the right time.