French Open 2024: Carlos Alcaraz beats Jannik Sinner to reach Roland Garros final

Carlos Alcaraz is one step away from winning his first-ever French Open crown after an enthralling semi-final victory over the highly-rated Jannik Sinner, who is set to become the new world number one.

Alcaraz, who was ranked third in the tournament, displayed great strength and determination as he managed to come back from a disadvantageous position two times in his impressive victory. The match saw Alcaraz secure a hard-fought win with a final score of 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, and 6-3.

Alcaraz failed to convert two match points, first by hitting the net after a long battle from the baseline and the second by hitting a forehand too long. It wasn't until his third chance that he was able to secure the win.

On Sunday, he is set to compete against Alexander Zverev, the fourth seed from Germany, in the final match of the men's tournament.

Sinner, the second seed representing Italy, experienced difficulties with cramps during the third set of the match. His aim was to secure consecutive major titles, having already claimed victory at the Australian Open in January.

However, Alcaraz managed to hold on and improve his performance as the game progressed.

According to Alcaraz, the essential aspect is to discover delight in agony.

Further, on clay, the matches tend to be extended with long rallies that can last for as long as four hours with a possible five sets. It requires determination to keep up with the pace and fight for every point. Nonetheless, it is crucial to appreciate the effort put into the game, considering the suffering you endure whilst playing on clay.

The 21-year-old tennis player is very close to achieving three major championship wins, also known as a career Grand Slam. He has already won the US Open in 2022, as well as Wimbledon last year.

On Friday, in the second semi-final, Zverev, who is 27 years old, defeated Casper Ruud, a Norwegian player who was seeded seventh, with a score of 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.

Zverev performed in a game only a few hours subsequent to the termination of a court hearing in Berlin concerning charges of domestic violence filed by his ex-girlfriend.

Many people in the world of tennis see the growing competition between Sinner and Alcaraz as a possible remedy for the absence of aging tennis giants.

Not many people will ever forget the remarkable US Open quarter-final in 2022 that concluded at 2:50am in New York City and included some incredible exchanges.

This competition was of a unique kind. Both players were unable to maintain their highest performance level continuously, and barely ever simultaneously.

However, the game turned into an enthralling experience where, occasionally, both individuals depended on their emotions as much as their reasoning.

Alcaraz stated that the match was undoubtedly one of the most challenging games he has ever played.

The 22-year-old player named Sinner had an ideal beginning to the game. He managed to take the serve of Alcaraz with two break points he created himself. Additionally, he held the ball twice without losing a point, leading to a score of 4-0.

Sinner put up a strong defense and executed deep returns, causing Alcaraz to make several errors on his forehand. Sinner's impressive gameplay kept Alcaraz confused and off-balance at the beginning of the second set.

Sinner took an early lead, but the situation quickly shifted as the game progressed.

Alcaraz improved his shot selection and accuracy, as Sinner's shots lacked depth. This allowed Alcaraz to break Sinner's serve twice, overcoming an early 2-0 deficit and gaining a significant 5-2 advantage to even the match.

Following the trading interval at the commencement of the third set, Alcaraz missed four opportunities at 2-2 even though Sinner experienced cramp in his playing arm.

After being treated, Sinner was able to make a comeback and win the following game. However, he later needed the physio's help again, but this time it was for his legs.

Sinner managed to regain the lead again. Unfortunately, his uncontrolled overhead shot during a 30-15 in the fourth set, with the score at 4-5, was a mistake. The ball went wide while Alcaraz was unable to catch it, resulting in a loss for Sinner.

In his first ever Roland Garros semi-final last year, Alcaraz experienced severe cramps all over his body. He later attributed this to the stress and pressure of competing against the unbeatable Novak Djokovic.

On this occasion, he appeared to be calmer as the game progressed and eventually surged ahead to secure the final win.

Sinner believed that the match was fantastic.

"He was able to emerge victorious in the sets by performing exceptionally well during the crucial moments. This proved to be the determining factor for his success."

Zverev has been trying to win his first Grand Slam title while dealing with the legal situation.

Prior to Roland Garros, the winner of the Olympics in tennis stated that the legal matter was not occupying his thoughts, and he has appeared to be very attentive and committed during the two-week event.

Zverev prepared for the French Open by clinching the highly esteemed Rome title and demonstrated his suitability as a strong candidate for the clay-court grand slam.

He had previously been defeated in the semifinals of three major tournaments, but he played a predominantly measured game against Ruud, who had placed second in both 2022 and 2023, and was dealing with a stomach ailment.

He had lost the first set thrice before and had managed to win the next three sets smoothly, after being challenged with only one break point which he saved.

I feel overjoyed as this court has witnessed a lot of my past experiences - both good and bad. One of my most cherished moments and likewise, one of my most disastrous moments on this court was during the 2022 semi-finals against Rafael Nadal when I sustained a severe ankle injury.

I am delighted to have made it to my fourth semi-final. The first two sets were played exceptionally well, but then I noticed that my opponent's pace had slowed down which was probably due to him feeling unwell. Regardless of that, his shots were still as good as before.