French Open: Carlos Alcaraz reaches final after Lorenzo Musetti retires with injury in fourth set
Alcaraz was leading 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-0, 2-0 when the eighth-seeded Italian had to stop playing on Court Philippe-Chatrier
Paris: Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached the French Open final on Friday after Lorenzo Musetti retired from their semifinal early in the fourth set.
Alcaraz was leading 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-0, 2-0 when the eighth-seeded Italian had to stop playing on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
“It’s not great to win a match like this. Lorenzo is a great player,” Alcaraz said. “I wish him all the best, and wish him a quick recovery and hope to see him soon on the court.”
Musetti had treatment on the inside of his left thigh late in the third set and then again before the start of the fourth.
The 23-year-old Musetti was 5-0 down after 16 minutes of the third set when he called for a trainer. Alcaraz broke Musetti in the next game to clinch the set in 21 minutes, winning 24 of 29 points.
Musetti was clearly hindered in his movements and called for the trainer again. After Alcaraz broke his serve to lead 2-0, Musetti walked slowly up to the net and received a hug from Alcaraz.
Alcaraz had made 16 unforced errors in the first set, which Musetti clinched when the Spaniard sent a forehand wide.
“The first two sets were really tough,” Alcaraz said. “When I won the second set I was relieved. Then in the third set I knew what I had to do. I knew I could push him to the limit by just keeping aggressive. I managed to be myself, be calmer, I could see much clearer and play great tennis.”
The 22-year-old Alcaraz, who is seeded second, goes for his second French Open title and fifth major overall against either top-ranked Jannik Sinner of Italy or 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the final.
They were playing their semifinal later Friday.
Actor Dustin Hoffman and former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry were in the crowd as Musetti, whose one-handed backhand is among the best in tennis, showed his stroke-making ability early on. Musetti fans with clown wigs in the colors of the Italian flag cheered him on.
Frustration got to Alcaraz, who aimed a side-footed kick at his changeover seat during the second set. The relief was evident when he broke Musetti’s serve in the 11th game and then raised his right fist triumphantly.
Musetti broke back to force a tiebreaker, which Alcaraz then dominated. The Spaniard clinched the set when Musetti meekly patted his drop shot into the net when a winner down the line was on offer.
Musetti was playing in only his second major semifinal after reaching the same stage at Wimbledon last year, where he lost to Djokovic in straight sets.
Alcaraz said he feels in top shape physically for the final.
“Really good. It’s been three intense weeks but I’m feeling great,” he said. “I have a lot of confidence right now. I’m going to give everything on Sunday.”
Alcaraz improved to 21-1 on clay this year, while Musetti fell short of becoming only the second Italian man to reach the French Open final after Adriano Panatta, who won it in 1976.
But Sinner still has a chance to do so.
