Carlos Alcaraz took a significant step towards his first French Open title by defeating the incoming world number one, Jannik Sinner, in a gripping semi-final. The Spanish third seed showcased his resilience, twice coming back from behind to secure a 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory.
Despite missing two match points—one due to hitting the net after a baseline rally and the other from a long forehand—Alcaraz capitalized on his third opportunity to clinch the win. He will now face German fourth seed Alexander Zverev in Sunday’s men’s final.
Italian second seed Sinner, who struggled with cramps in the third set, was aiming for consecutive major titles following his Australian Open win in January. However, Alcaraz grew stronger as the match progressed, ultimately overcoming his opponent.
“You have to find the joy in suffering, that’s the key,” Alcaraz said. “Even more here on clay—long rallies, four-hour matches, five sets—you have to fight. But you have to enjoy suffering.”
At 21, Alcaraz is now just one win away from completing three legs of a career Grand Slam, having already triumphed at the 2022 US Open and last year’s Wimbledon.
In the second semi-final, Zverev, 27, overcame Norwegian seventh seed Casper Ruud with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 victory. Zverev played just hours after a trial in Berlin concerning domestic abuse allegations made by his former girlfriend was discontinued.
The upcoming final promises to be a high-stakes showdown, as both players aim to add a coveted French Open title to their impressive resumes.
