Carlos Alcaraz is through to the French Open final once again, just one win away from defending his Roland Garros crown. The 22-year-old Spaniard advanced on Friday after Lorenzo Musetti was forced to retire early in the fourth set of their semi-final clash. Alcaraz was leading 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-0, 2-0 when the Italian, hampered by an upper left leg injury.
With the win, Alcaraz becomes only the second player in the Open Era, after Roger Federer, to win multiple Roland Garros semi-finals after dropping the first set, per OptaAce. Federer managed it in 2006 and 2009, and now Alcaraz has done it twice: against Jannik Sinner in 2024 and now Musetti in 2025.
Moreover, the 22-year-old also becomes the fifth-youngest player to reach five Grand Slam finals in the Open Era. Among active players, only Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev have accomplished the same.
Despite his win, Alcaraz admitted that it was a bittersweet moment after Musetti had to end his clay court season with an injury. “It’s never great getting through or winning a match like this,” he said. “Lorenzo is a great player. He has had an incredible clay season… I always wish him all the best, a quick recovery, and hopefully we are going to enjoy his tennis pretty soon,” he said during the on-court interview.
Alcaraz awaits for Sinner vs Djokovic
Now, all eyes turn to the other semi-final: top seed Jannik Sinner versus Novak Djokovic. Whoever wins that blockbuster match will stand between Alcaraz and another Roland Garros crown. The Serbian and the Italian are 4-4 in the head to head, and their encounter promises an entertaining battle.
“For sure, I’m not going to miss it,” Alcaraz said. “This match is one of the best matchups we have in tennis right now. Sinner against Djokovic, it’s going to be great tennis. As a huge fan of tennis, I’m going to watch it, I’m going to enjoy it. Obviously, I’m going to take tactics from that match, but I think we are all going to enjoy that match because they are going to play great tennis.”
Whoever emerges from that duel will face a supremely confident and battle-tested Alcaraz in Sunday’s final. And with a flawless 4-0 record in Grand Slam finals so far, the defending champion looks to add another major trophy to his already impressive cabinet.