Alcaraz returns to Roland-Garros final as injury ruins Musetti’s promising challenge
The Spaniard was leading 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-0, 2-0 when Musetti withdrew from the match with a leg injury, sending Alcaraz into another Roland-Garros final
Carlos Alcaraz, Roland-Garros, 2025 © Dante Badano / Psnewz
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is into a second consecutive Roland-Garros final after a desperately unfortunate left-leg injury forced Lorenzo Musetti out of the tournament with the Spaniard leading 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-0, 2-0.
In echoes of their encounter in the Monte-Carlo final, injury to Musetti put a sudden and disappointing end to what had been an excellent match, with the Italian having put Alcaraz in all sorts of trouble early on.
The world No 2 looked to be in the ascendency after clinching a tight second set, but the Parisian crowd were denied the full thrilling spectacle that this match was turning into under the roof on Philippe-Chatrier.
captivating contest comes to an abrupt end
The first set was laced with tension, with both players tentatively using their service games to settle into the contest. Unfortunately for Alcaraz, that tension reared its head in the form of a desperately loose service game in the tenth and final game of the opening stanza. Unable to take either of the two break-point opportunities he had generated before that, the Spaniard was left to count the cost as Musetti pounced to steal the opener and open up the very real prospect of an upset.
After a nervous start from both, it was Musetti who settled the better of the two as his calm and composed demeanour was in contrast to Alcaraz’s wavering focus.
The Spaniard earned his first break in the third game of the second set, but was unable to consolidate as the Italian struck straight back.
Musetti showcased his improved service motion – having tweaked his technique in the off-season – to impressively fend off two break points in the ninth game before Alcaraz finally appeared to have sealed the pivotal break two games later. But again he could not consolidate, as Musetti broke straight back to send the second set into a tiebreak.
It was the Spaniard who took it, elevating his game to its usual lofty heights to accelerate to the finish line and draw a captivating contest level at one set apiece.
That tiebreak marked the start of a huge momentum shift, as Alcaraz’s quality continued to rise rapidly while Musetti’s dropped off alarmingly. The third stanza was over in the blink of an eye as the Spaniard broke three times without reply to take it 6-0 and sprint into a 2-1 lead.
There didn’t appear to be any hampered movement from the Italian, but he received treatment on his left leg towards the end of that third set and two games into the fourth the contest was over as Musetti came to the net to forfeit the semi-final.
alcaraz one win away from roland-garros folklore
“It is never great getting through winning the match like this,” Alcaraz told the crowd in his on-court interview.
“Lorenzo is a great player. He has done an incredible clay season. He’s one of the few players who has achieved semi-finals. I wish him all the best and a quick recovery.
“The first two sets were really tough. I had chances to break his serve in the match and I couldn’t make the most of it.
“He was playing great tennis. When I won the second set there was relief. In the third set, I knew what I had to do in the beginning – pushing him to the limit and trying to be aggressive.
“I was more calm and I could see this more clear and I could play great tennis.”
Alcaraz moves into his fifth Grand Slam final, having won all four of his previous appearances in major finals. He is now just one victory away from becoming only the third man to successfully defend his Roland-Garros title this century.
But, whoever he faces in Sunday’s showpiece, the Spaniard will need another defining performance to clinch a second French Open title as he will take on either the resurgent 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic or world No 1 and generational rival Jannik Sinner in the final.
