On a sunlit afternoon at Roland Garros, the 2025 French Open men’s semifinal unfolded as a tale of tenacity, talent, and heartbreak, with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz advancing to his second consecutive final after Lorenzo Musetti retired due to injury. The score stood at 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-0, 2-0 when the 23-year-old Italian, hampered by a left thigh issue, shook Alcaraz’s hand at the net, ending a match that had promised to be a classic. Despite the abrupt conclusion, the Parisian crowd showered both players with admiration, honoring Alcaraz’s relentless pursuit and Musetti’s courageous spirit, which left an indelible mark on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
The match began with Musetti showcasing the fearless, varied tennis that has defined his stellar clay-court season. The world No. 7, wielding his signature one-handed backhand, outmaneuvered Alcaraz in the opening set, breaking the Spaniard’s serve at 5-4 with a blend of aggressive forehands and deft net play. “I felt today I had my chances to try to go 2 sets up,” Musetti later reflected, his voice tinged with disappointment but laced with pride. Alcaraz, uncharacteristically shaky with only 41 percent of first serves landing, struggled to find rhythm, even kicking his bench in frustration during the second set. Yet, the 22-year-old’s champion’s resolve shone through. He clawed back in the second set, surviving two break points and capitalizing on a tiebreak where his forehand found its mark, leveling the match with a 7-3 scoreline. “The first two sets were really tough,” Alcaraz admitted, noting, “When I won the second set, there was a little bit of relief, and then in the third set, I knew what I had to do: just push him to the limit and try to be aggressive.”
The third set was a masterclass from Alcaraz, who unleashed a barrage of winners, breaking Musetti’s serve repeatedly to claim a 6-0 bagel in just 21 minutes. Musetti, visibly struggling, called for a trainer at 0-5, clutching his left thigh. Despite treatment, his movement faltered, and after two games in the fourth set, he made the painful decision to retire. “I started losing a little bit of strength on the left leg behind, and definitely it was going worse and worse,” Musetti explained, adding, “I think it was the right decision to make, even if it was not what I wanted.” The crowd rose to their feet, applauding the Italian’s effort, while Alcaraz, ever gracious, urged them to cheer louder for his opponent. “It’s never great getting through or winning a match like this,” Alcaraz said courtside, his respect evident. “Lorenzo is a great player. He has had an incredible clay season. I always wish him all the best, a quick recovery, and hopefully we are going to enjoy his tennis pretty soon.”
Musetti’s journey to the semifinals was a testament to his growth. Having reached the semifinals of all three clay-court Masters 1000 events—Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome—he became only the fifth player to achieve this feat in a single season, joining the likes of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. His graceful yet punishing style, honed since picking up a racket at age four, had toppled top-10 stars like Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur en route to his first French Open semifinal. Off the court, Musetti’s joy was compounded by personal milestones: a father to son Ludovico and expecting a second child with partner Veronica, he described this as “the best period of my life.” His bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and a career-high ranking of No. 7 underscored a season of breakthroughs, making his injury-forced exit all the more poignant.
Alcaraz, now 33-2 on clay since May 2024, moves on to face world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in a blockbuster final, a clash of the sport’s brightest young stars. The Spaniard, who holds a 6-4 head-to-head edge over Sinner, including four straight wins, expressed confidence: “I’m feeling great. I have a lot of confidence right now. I’m going to give everything on Sunday.” His path to the final, marked by a dominant 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 quarterfinal win over Tommy Paul, signals a player peaking at the right moment. Yet, Alcaraz’s sportsmanship shone as brightly as his forehand, as he acknowledged Musetti’s challenge: “He deserves to go in the final.”
The Parisian crowd, including luminaries like actor Dustin Hoffman, witnessed a match that encapsulated the beauty and brutality of tennis. Musetti, though defeated, won hearts with his artistry and resilience, while Alcaraz’s march toward a fifth Grand Slam title continues. As Musetti undergoes tests to assess his injury, the tennis world echoes Alcaraz’s sentiment, hoping to see the Italian’s elegant game grace the clay again soon. For now, Roland Garros prepares for a final that promises to write the next chapter in tennis’s new era, but Musetti’s valiant stand will linger as a moment of pure Parisian respect.
Leave a Reply