Reigning French Open champion Alcaraz through to final after Musetti retires with injury

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz reached back-to-back French Open finals after Italian eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired with injury while trailing 4-6 7-6(3) 6-0 2-0 on Friday.

“It’s never great to go through or win a match when it’s like this,” said the 22-year-old, who has never lost a Grand Slam final.

“He’s done an incredible clay season. I wish him all the best, a quick recovery and that he’ll be back soon.”

Alcaraz, who is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century after Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, will face either world number one Jannik Sinner or 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final.

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Musetti twice denied Alcaraz the chance to break in the opening nine games before the 23-year-old suddenly dialled up the intensity and snatched the opening set when his Spanish opponent produced errors in a poor service game.

A frustrated Alcaraz kicked his bench during the second set but finally found a way through Musetti’s dogged defence to draw level after a tiebreak and then produced a dazzling display of power and precision to dish out a bagel in the third set.

Musetti, who appeared to be hampered by a left thigh issue midway through the third set, threw in the towel after two games in the fourth.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, Reuters)