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In a dramatic turn of events at Roland Garros on June 6, 2025, Carlos Alcaraz secured his place in the French Open final for the second straight year, advancing when his semifinal opponent, Lorenzo Musetti, retired due to a thigh injury. The match, which promised to be a clay-court classic, ended abruptly with Alcaraz leading 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-0, 2-0. The victory, while bittersweet, sets the stage for the 22-year-old Spaniard to chase history as he aims to defend his title in Sunday’s championship match.

The semifinal began with high intensity, showcasing the contrasting styles of two of the ATP’s brightest talents. Musetti, the eighth seed from Italy, came into the match riding a wave of confidence after a stellar clay season, including a recent title in Barcelona. His elegant one-handed backhand and deft touch at the net troubled Alcaraz early on. The Italian broke Alcaraz’s serve in the fifth game of the first set, capitalizing on a string of unforced errors from the Spaniard to take the opener 6-4. The capacity crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier buzzed with anticipation, sensing a potential upset.

Alcaraz, however, is no stranger to adversity. The world No. 2 regrouped in the second set, leaning on his trademark intensity and explosive forehand to push Musetti to a tiebreak. In a tightly contested breaker, Alcaraz found another gear, mixing powerful groundstrokes with delicate drop shots to level the match at one set apiece, winning the tiebreak 7-3. The momentum swung decisively in his favor as Musetti began to show signs of physical discomfort, clutching his left thigh during changeovers.

The third set was a masterclass from Alcaraz. With Musetti’s movement visibly hampered, the defending champion unleashed a barrage of winners, racing through the set 6-0 in just 28 minutes. His relentless baseline game and improved serving overwhelmed the Italian, who called for a medical timeout early in the fourth set to treat his thigh. Despite attempting to continue, Musetti could only manage two more games before shaking his head and offering a handshake at the net, retiring at 2-0 in the fourth.

Post-match, Alcaraz was gracious, expressing sympathy for Musetti’s misfortune. “It’s not the way you want to win a match like this,” he said in his on-court interview. “Lorenzo is an incredible player, and he’s been playing unbelievable tennis on clay. I wish him a quick recovery and hope to see him back soon.” Alcaraz also reflected on his own performance, noting that he felt his level rising as the match progressed. “It was tough at the start, but I stayed focused and played my game. I’m excited to be back in the final.”

The tennis world now turns its attention to Sunday’s final, where Alcaraz will face either top seed Jannik Sinner or 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, depending on the outcome of the other semifinal. A victory would make Alcaraz only the third man this century to successfully defend his French Open title, following Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka. His electrifying blend of power, speed, and mental resilience has already drawn comparisons to the greats, and a second Roland Garros crown would further cement his status as a generational talent.

For Musetti, the retirement marks a disappointing end to an otherwise stellar clay season. The 24-year-old, who reached the semifinals in Monte Carlo and Stuttgart earlier this year, will now focus on recovery ahead of the grass-court swing. Meanwhile, Alcaraz’s journey continues as he prepares for what promises to be a blockbuster final in Paris, with the tennis world eagerly awaiting another chapter in his burgeoning legacy.