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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
Sport
Paul Myers

Alcaraz moves into French Open final after injury forces Musetti to retire

Carlos Alcaraz moved into the final of the 2025 French Open after his semi-final opponent Lorenzo Musetti retired with a leg injury in the fourth set. © Pierre René-Worms/RFI

Second seed and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz moved into the French Open final on Friday after Lorenzo Musetti retired in the fourth set of their semi-final on centre court.

Alcaraz was leading 2-0 when the 23-year-old Italian threw in the towel.

"It's never easy to win like this," Alcaraz told on-court interviewer Lucas Pouille.

"He has had an incredible clay court season and is one of the few players who’ve achieved at least semi-finals in the biggest tournaments on clay.

"I wish him all the best for the recovery. I am sure he will be back pretty soon."

First semi-final

Musetti, playing in his first semi-final at the French Open, kept pace with Alcaraz and, leading 5-4, profited from a couple of wayward forehands to take the Spaniard's serve and the set 6-4.

The second followed a similar pattern: Alcaraz unable to exploit his break points and Musetti showing, grit, guile and style to remain competitive.

But he faltered when serving to take a 6-5 lead offering Alcaraz the chance to serve for the set.

But Alcaraz was in equally munificent mood and coughed up his own serve to take the set into a tiebreak.

Alcaraz claimed it seven points to three. And he raced through the third set 6-0 against a wilting Musetti who called the trainer at the end of the third set to massage his left leg.

He returned to the court in spirit but the body had departed. After losing the second game of the set, Musetti advanced to the net to offer his congratulations.

French Open history

Alcaraz will attempt to become only the sixth man and the first player since his hero Rafael Nadal to win back-to-back titles at the French Open since tennis was opened up to professional players in 1968.

He will play either the top seed Jannik Sinner or the sixth seed Novak Djokovic who is seeking a fourth French Open crown and a record 25th singles title at the four Grand Slam tournament venues in Melbourne, Paris, London and New York.

"I will watch the match for sure," said Alcaraz. "It's one of the best matches of the year.

"I will watch it and enjoy it and look out for possible tactics for the final."

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