Carlos Alcaraz earned a place in his first French Open final after outlasting arch–but friendly–rival Jannik Sinner 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 after four hours and nine minutes on Friday afternoon.
It was a roller-coaster ride that for the most part lacked the quality of their previous matches, most notably in the 2022 U.S. Open quarterfinals (also won by Alcaraz in five sets). The third set was an especially rocky ride, as Sinner dealt with a right-hand cramp but an erratic Alcaraz failed to capitalize.
With his back against the wall down two sets to one, however, the Spaniard raised his level. Both the fourth and the fifth were decided by just a single game in which either player had a break point. Alcaraz struck when it mattered most at 5-4 in the fourth and then broke Sinner right away for 2-0 in the fifth. The Italian pushed Alcaraz to deuce in each of the world No. 3’s last three service, but on every occasion Alcaraz managed to come up with a crucial hold. The final one at 5-3 clinched victory.
“It was a really close match,” Alcaraz assured. “I think really high level of tennis–really high intensity of everything.
“I’m going to say the key was that I took my chances that Jannik brought to me in the match. The break points that I had, probably I took [them]. The first time that we played the break points, I took it. In the fifth set, the first break point that I had, I took it. Yeah, I’m going to say that was the key. Because in the fifth set he had really good chances to break my serve, as well–a lot of 40-all.”
Sinner agreed.
“I think it was a great match,” he commented. “For sure the sets he won he played better on the important points. I think that was the key.”
Alcaraz is now 5-4 lifetime in the head-to-head series (6-4 if you include a Challenger matchup).
“The toughest matches that I have played in my short career have been against Jannik,” the two-time Grand Slam champion said during his on-court interview. “The U.S. Open in 2022; this one. That means [he is a great player]; the team that he has, as well; the great work he puts (in) every day. I hope to play many, many more matches like this one against Jannik.
“Yes, it was one of the toughest matches that I have played, for sure.”
Alcaraz will face Alexander Zverev in the title match on Sunday afternoon. Zverev defeated Casper Ruud 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 in Friday’s second semifinal.
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nice one, Alcaraz