Carlos Alcaraz, at 21 years and 33 days old, has etched his name in Spanish tennis history by becoming the 12th Spanish men’s player to reach the Roland Garros final.
His childhood dream is now within reach after a thrilling semifinal victory over Jannik Sinner, which ended with a scoreline of 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in 4 hours and 9 minutes.
Alcaraz continues to break records for his early achievements in tennis. He is the youngest professional to reach the Grand Slam finals on three different surfaces: hard, clay, and grass. This Sunday, he will compete for the title against the winner of the match between Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud.
A challenging start
Jannik Sinner started the match stronger, looking more composed and less nervous. This situation mirrored their encounter in the Indian Wells Masters 1000 semifinal, where Sinner’s winning streak ended against Alcaraz. Sinner quickly took the first set 6-1, with Alcaraz conceding the first two sets of serve. The score rapidly became 4-0 in just 16 minutes.
Alcaraz struggled to find his rhythm on the central Philippe Chatrier court. Despite the crowd’s support, hoping for an exciting match between these rising stars, Alcaraz needed 21 minutes to win his first game. Although the 4-1 score seemed insurmountable, he began to fight back. A powerful backhand from Sinner provided Alcaraz with his first break.
Despite losing a 40-15 lead and dropping three of his four serves, Alcaraz continued to battle. He faced adversity with every serve, while Sinner, comfortable in returning, waited for mistakes. Out of his first five serves, Alcaraz lost four, yet he fought on with determination.
Gustavo Kuerten, a former champion, watched from the stands as Alcaraz began to turn the tide. Down 2-1 in the second set, Alcaraz fought back to take the lead with a cross-court forehand. His serving difficulties persisted, but after an hour and seven minutes, he was ahead for the first time both in score (3-2) and match momentum. He solidified this with a third break, making it 4-2, his shout echoing through the Bosque de Boulogne.
Ferrero’s strategy of high balls troubled Sinner, leading to five consecutive games for Alcaraz and a 5-2 lead. With the match reset, it became a best of three sets. Alcaraz struck first in the new set, but Sinner fought back, showing no signs of his earlier hip pain.
Alcaraz had to overcome physical discomfort
Sinner required physiotherapy for his right arm but continued to compete fiercely. Despite his statistics showing seven double faults, he secured his sixth break, leading 4-2. Alcaraz’s shots often landed in the middle of the court, allowing Sinner to attack effectively. However, Sinner seemed physically strained with cramps in his right leg, ultimately winning the third set.
The fourth set was evenly matched until Alcaraz crafted a series of impressive shots, forcing a fifth set. Starting with his serve in the tiebreak, Alcaraz quickly established a 3-0 lead, playing confidently in champion mode. A sign in the Philippe Chatrier stands read: “Victory belongs to the most tenacious.” This time, victory was Alcaraz’s.
Alcaraz, the world number three, had won nine out of 10 five-set matches, losing only in the third round of the 2022 Australian Open to Matteo Berrettini. His clean play and tenacity carried him through the final moments, securing his place in the Roland Garros final.