On a dramatic Friday at Roland Garros, Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the French Open final after Lorenzo Musetti was forced to retire in the fourth set of their gripping semifinal clash. The 22-year-old Spaniard, defending his title, was leading 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-0, 2-0 when Musetti, struggling with a worsening leg injury, could no longer continue after two hours and 25 minutes of intense play on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Musetti, seeded eighth, had shown remarkable resilience throughout the match, even clinching the first set 6-4 by capitalizing on Alcaraz's 16 unforced errors. The Italian's one-handed backhand, one of the sport's finest, dazzled the crowd early on, with fans sporting clown wigs in the colors of the Italian flag cheering him on passionately. However, the physical toll of the match became evident in the third set when Musetti, trailing 0-5, called for the physio to treat his upper left leg.
Despite receiving treatment, Musetti’s condition deteriorated, and after a brief attempt to continue, he ultimately retired while trailing 2-0 in the fourth set. “I felt at the beginning of the third when I was serving, I started losing a little bit of strength on the left leg behind, and definitely it was going worse and worse, so I decided to stop,” Musetti said. “I think it was the right decision to make, even if it was not what I wanted. Tomorrow I will do exams.”
Alcaraz expressed sympathy and respect for his opponent in his on-court interview, stating, “It’s never great getting through or winning a match like this. Lorenzo is a great player. He has had an incredible clay season. He is one of the few players who achieved at least the semi-finals at all the biggest events on clay. I think just four players had done that before. I always wish him all the best, a quick recovery, and hopefully we are going to enjoy his tennis pretty soon.”
This retirement marked only the third time in the Open Era that a player has withdrawn from a Roland Garros semifinal, joining David Nalbandian in 2006 and Alexander Zverev in 2022. Musetti’s injury adds a somber note to what has been an otherwise stellar clay-court season for the Italian, who became the fifth player to reach the semi-finals of all clay ATP Masters 1000 events and Roland Garros in the same year, joining the ranks of legends like Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and Alexander Zverev.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, has solidified his dominance on clay with this victory. He improved his head-to-head record against Musetti to 6-1, including wins in the Monte Carlo and Rome Masters finals earlier this year. His record on clay since May 2024 now stands at an astonishing 33-2, underscoring his status as one of the sport’s preeminent talents.
Despite the challenging nature of the match, Alcaraz’s tactical approach and mental fortitude shone through. After dropping the first set, he tightened his game, increasing his first-serve percentage from 41% in the opening set to 65% in the second. The second set was fiercely contested, with both players exchanging breaks before Alcaraz dominated the tiebreak 7-3. This pivotal moment seemed to shift momentum decisively in his favor.
In the third set, Alcaraz unleashed some of his best shot-making, racing to a 6-0 'bagel' set in just 22 minutes while Musetti struggled to keep pace. Musetti’s physical issues became increasingly apparent, and despite valiant efforts, he was unable to continue.
Looking ahead, Alcaraz will aim to defend his Roland Garros crown and secure his fifth Grand Slam title. His opponent in Sunday’s final will be the winner of the highly anticipated semifinal between world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, who battled later on Friday. Both potential opponents present vastly different challenges but equally thrilling prospects for the final.
Alcaraz spoke enthusiastically about the upcoming final, saying, “It’s going to be a really great Sunday for the fans of tennis. Against Novak or Jannik, every time I play against them it’s a nice match to watch. I enjoy every time I’m playing against them because I love that battle.” He added, “If I want to play against Jannik, he’s the best tennis player right now. He’s destroying every opponent through the semi-final. Or Djokovic is a 24-time Grand Slam champion. I have no preference. I’m going to enjoy the match, and let’s see who I’m gonna play against.”
The potential final could represent a fascinating clash of generations. Should Alcaraz face the 38-year-old Djokovic, it would be a battle between youth and experience, with Djokovic seeking to become the oldest male Grand Slam champion in the Open Era. Alternatively, a showdown with 23-year-old Sinner would highlight the sport’s new generation, with the two top seeds having shared the last six Grand Slam titles since Sinner’s breakthrough Australian Open win in 2024.
Musetti, despite his retirement, can take pride in a breakthrough season that has firmly established him among the elite on clay. His quest to become only the second Italian man to reach the French Open final after Adriano Panatta in 1976 was halted by injury, but his performances have left an indelible mark.
For Alcaraz, the path to Roland Garros glory continues. With confidence high and physical condition strong after three intense weeks, the Spaniard is poised to give everything in pursuit of back-to-back titles on the Parisian clay.
