PARIS – Defending champion Carlos Alcalaz reached the French Open Finals on Friday after Lorenzo Musetti retired from the semifinals early in the fourth set.
Alcaraz was leading 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-0, 2-0 when the eighth seed Italian had to stop playing for Court Philippe-Chatrier.
“It’s not great to win a game like this. Lorenzo is a great player,” Alcaraz said. “I hope he is all the best, and I hope he recovers quickly and he will meet in court soon.”
Musetti was treated on the inside of his left thigh in the second half of the third set, and was treated again before the fourth initiation.
The 23-year-old Musetti went down 5-0 after calling the trainer 16 minutes after the third set. Alcaraz beat Mumetti in the next game and clinched the set in 21 minutes, earning 24 of 29 points.
Musetti was clearly blocked from his movement and called out to the trainer again. After Alcaraz defeated his serve to lead 2-0, Mumetti walked slowly to the net and received a hug from Alcaraz.
Alcaraz had made 16 forced errors in the first set. This was Musetti’s final as the Spaniards spread the tip.
“The first two sets were really tough,” Alcaraz said. “When I won the second set, I was relieved. Then in the third set, I knew what I had to do, and I knew I could push him to the limit by keeping him offensive.
Second sowed 22-year-old Alkaraz won his second French open title and fifth major against either top-ranked Janik Sinner or 24 Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic in the final.
They were playing the semi-finals later on Friday.