Alcaraz is striving to become only the third man this century to defend his Roland Garros title, joining Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten. He will compete against either world number one Jannik Sinner or 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final.
“It’s never ideal to win this way,” Alcaraz remarked, commending Musetti for reaching the semi-finals of all four major claycourt events this year.
“He’s a fantastic player and has enjoyed an incredible claycourt season … I wish him a swift recovery, and I’m sure we’ll be watching him play at a high level soon.”
Musetti thwarted Alcaraz’s attempts to break serve in the opening nine games until the 23-year-old elevated his game and secured the first set after errors from his Spanish opponent in a difficult service game.
Frustrated, Alcaraz kicked his bench during the second set but eventually conquered Musetti’s stubborn defense, leveling the match after a tiebreak. He then delivered an impressive display of strength and precision to win the third set without dropping a game.
Musetti, who had reached the finals in Monte Carlo and the semi-finals in Madrid and Rome, struggled with his leg issue during the third set and decided to retire after just two games in the fourth set.
“I noticed at the start of the third set while serving that I was losing some strength in my left leg, and it just got worse, so I chose to stop,” Musetti explained.
“I believe it was the right choice, although it’s not what I wanted. I’ll undergo tests tomorrow to assess the situation.”
Alcaraz, who had opportunities in the opening set, expressed relief at finally being able to showcase his top level of performance afterward.
“Winning the second set brought me relief, and I knew I had to be aggressive and play my game. I felt calmer, I could see things more clearly, and I played superb tennis at the start of the third,” he stated.
“I feel great physically. It’s been three intense weeks, but I have one more step to take. I’m playing excellent tennis and have a lot of confidence. I’ve been achieving great things in this tournament, and now I need to give 100% in the final.”
Alcaraz will watch the second semi-final on Court Philippe Chatrier to analyze his potential opponents.
“I won’t miss tonight’s match; it’s one of the best matchups we can have right now, Sinner against Djokovic,” he noted.
“I’m going to watch and enjoy the match, taking away some tactics from it.”
