Carlos Alcaraz Advances to French Open Final After Musetti Retires

PARIS, France — Carlos Alcaraz reached the French Open final on Friday after Lorenzo Musetti retired due to injury in their semifinal match. Alcaraz was leading 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-0, 2-0 when Musetti stopped playing on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

“It’s not great to win a match like this. Lorenzo is a great player,” Alcaraz said. He expressed his well wishes for Musetti, hoping for a quick recovery.

Musetti, ranked eighth, sought treatment for his left thigh during the match. After losing the third set in just 21 minutes, he called for a trainer again before retiring. “I started losing a little bit of strength on my left leg… I think it was the right decision to make,” Musetti said.

Alcaraz, the defending champion and second seed, is aiming for his second French Open title. He improved to 21-1 on clay this year, with his only loss coming earlier in the season.

“I’m feeling great physically and have a lot of confidence,” Alcaraz said. “I’m going to give everything on Sunday.”

In the final, Alcaraz will face either world No. 1 Jannik Sinner or 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. The Spaniard previously defeated Musetti in their last six encounters.

Despite the unfortunate ending, Alcaraz’s victory showcased his resilience on the clay court. He holds a remarkable record there, solidifying his status as a top contender.

“It was a tough match, but I managed to be more calm in the third set,” Alcaraz noted, reflecting on his performance.

As he prepares for the final, Alcaraz has his sights set on continuing his winning streak at Grand Slams. He is currently 4-0 in major finals.