Will Alcaraz Claim Victory Again After Musetti’s Injury Retirement?

Synopsis
Carlos Alcaraz advances to the Roland Garros final after Lorenzo Musetti's retirement due to injury. Experience the thrilling moments of the match and Alcaraz's journey as he seeks to defend his title. Can he maintain his perfect record in Grand Slam finals?
Key Takeaways
- Carlos Alcaraz is now 4-0 in Grand Slam finals.
- Lorenzo Musetti retired due to a left leg injury during the match.
- Alcaraz awaits the winner of the upcoming match between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.
- This victory marks Alcaraz's fifth Grand Slam final appearance.
- Alcaraz showed resilience and tactical awareness to overcome the challenge.
Paris, June 6 (NationPress) Carlos Alcaraz has taken a significant stride towards defending his Roland Garros title on Friday, reaching his second consecutive final in Paris after Lorenzo Musetti was compelled to retire during their semifinal encounter. The 22-year-old Spaniard was leading 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-0, 2-0 when Musetti, struggling with a left leg injury, decided to withdraw after two hours and 25 minutes of intense tennis.
Musetti, who had previously shocked Novak Djokovic in the tournament and had a remarkable clay season, requested a medical timeout at 0-5 in the third set. Although he continued momentarily, the Italian was clearly in pain and could no longer maintain the level of play needed to counter Alcaraz’s relentless baseline pressure.
“It’s never ideal to advance or win a match in this manner,” Alcaraz expressed during his on-court interview. “Lorenzo is an exceptional player. He has had a fantastic clay season…I genuinely wish him a speedy recovery, and I hope we get to see him back on the court soon.”
This victory marks Alcaraz’s fifth appearance in a Grand Slam final, making him the fifth-youngest player in the Open Era to reach this milestone. Among current players, only Novak Djokovic (37 finals) and Daniil Medvedev (6) have participated in more major finals.
Despite losing the first set, Alcaraz maintained his composure, keeping his aggressive baseline stance under the closed roof of Court Philippe-Chatrier.
He ultimately overwhelmed Musetti with precise shots and superior footwork, particularly after clinching the tightly contested second set in a tiebreak. From that point on, it was a one-sided affair.
“The first two sets were really challenging,” Alcaraz admitted. “After winning the second set, I felt a surge of relief, and then in the third set, I knew I had to push him to the limit and remain aggressive, not allowing him to take control.”
Now undefeated in Grand Slam finals (4-0), Alcaraz is set to face the winner of the much-anticipated second semifinal between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic. It’s a blockbuster matchup that the Spaniard is eager to witness.
“This match is one of the most exciting matchups in tennis right now,” Alcaraz said with a grin. “Sinner against Djokovic…I’m definitely going to watch it and enjoy it. Obviously, I’ll be taking notes for strategies from that match.”