Carlos Alcaraz, the defending French Open champion and world No. 2, powered into his second consecutive Roland Garros final on June 6, 2025, but not without revealing a rare chink in his armor during a hard-fought semifinal against Lorenzo Musetti. The 22-year-old Spaniard’s 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-0, 2-0 victory, sealed by Musetti’s retirement due to a thigh injury, showcased his resilience but also exposed moments of vulnerability that could embolden his rivals, particularly world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, as they prepare for a blockbuster final on Sunday. This clash, the first Grand Slam final between the top two seeds since Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic in 2020, promises to test Alcaraz’s mettle after a performance that was far from flawless.
The semifinal on Court Philippe-Chatrier, played under a closed roof due to Paris’s fickle weather, began with an uncharacteristic wobble from Alcaraz. Musetti, the eighth-seeded Italian who had enjoyed a stellar clay season, capitalized on Alcaraz’s early errors to claim the first set 6-4. A tame forehand error from Alcaraz, typically the cornerstone of his aggressive baseline game, handed Musetti the break at 5-4, leaving the Spaniard visibly rattled as he returned to his seat. “It was not great, you know, winning the match like this,” Alcaraz reflected, acknowledging the bittersweet nature of advancing via Musetti’s injury. The first set exposed a rare lapse in composure, with Alcaraz’s 22 unforced errors across the match—many from his usually lethal forehand—offering a blueprint for opponents to exploit.
The second set was a tense affair, with both players trading breaks and Alcaraz struggling to convert early break point opportunities. Musetti’s crunching cross-court forehand and a sublime topspin backhand winner, reminiscent of Roger Federer, pushed Alcaraz to the brink, forcing a tiebreak. Here, Alcaraz rediscovered his rhythm, racing to a 6-1 lead and leveling the match. “The first two sets were really tough. I had chances to break his serve and be up in the match, but I could not make the most of it,” he admitted, highlighting the mental battle to stay composed. The third set saw Alcaraz unleash his full arsenal, overwhelming Musetti 6-0 in just 21 minutes as the Italian’s physical condition deteriorated. Musetti’s retirement early in the fourth set, likely due to a left hamstring issue, ended the contest abruptly, but not before Alcaraz had shown both brilliance and fragility.
This performance, while a victory, will give Sinner and other rivals hope. Alcaraz’s occasional inconsistency under pressure—evident in his failure to capitalize on break points and his unforced errors—suggests that sustained aggression from an opponent like Sinner, who has not dropped a set in Paris, could unsettle him. Sinner, who defeated Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3) in the other semifinal, is riding a wave of confidence after winning the 2024 US Open and 2025 Australian Open. “My head-to-head lately doesn’t look great against Carlos, but let’s see what I can do,” Sinner said, aware that Alcaraz leads their rivalry 7-4, including a five-set win at Roland Garros in 2024. Their upcoming final, a rematch of Alcaraz’s straight-sets victory in the 2025 Italian Open, is poised to be a defining moment in their “era-defining” rivalry.
Alcaraz’s clay-court dominance remains formidable, with a 33-2 record since May 2024, bolstered by titles in Monte-Carlo and Rome this year. His aggressive style, blending blistering forehands, heavy topspin, and relentless defense, has made him a nightmare for opponents on the red dirt. Yet, as three-time Roland Garros champion Mats Wilander noted, “It could very well be his most dominant Slam, yes, because I think he likes when he has a little bit more time.” The slower clay surface suits Alcaraz’s game, but the semifinal showed that when opponents like Musetti apply pressure and force him to play defensively, cracks can appear. “Lorenzo is a great player, he has had an incredible clay season,” Alcaraz said, acknowledging Musetti’s ability to challenge him before the injury.
As Alcaraz prepares to face Sinner, the tennis world is abuzz with anticipation. A win would make him the first man since Rafael Nadal in 2020 to defend the Roland Garros title and bring his Grand Slam tally to five, matching Sinner’s potential haul if the Italian prevails. The £2.15 million prize for the champion adds extra stakes to a match that could redefine men’s tennis. For Alcaraz, the challenge is clear: overcome the rare weaknesses exposed against Musetti—errant forehands, missed opportunities, and moments of mental fragility—or risk handing Sinner the edge. As the Parisian crowd gears up for a historic No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown, Alcaraz’s rivals will be watching closely, ready to pounce on any sign of vulnerability in the young Spaniard’s quest for greatness.
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