Carlos Alcaraz: Spaniard recovers to edge Jannik Sinner in five-set thriller to reach final at Roland Garros

Carlos Alcaraz recovered from a poor start to beat an inconsistent Jannik Sinner 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3 to reach his maiden French Open final after a see-saw encounter on Friday.

The third seed was a shadow of his brilliant self in the opening set before making the most of his Italian opponent’s premature cramps to level ahead of the match going into a decider.

Australian Open champion Sinner, who will take over from Novak Djokovic as world No 1 next week, bowed out when he returned a massive forehand down the line wide on the third match point on Court Philippe-Chatrier in a contest lasting four hours and nine minutes.

The 21-year-old Spaniard becomes the youngest player to make Grand Slam finals on all three surfaces; hard-court, grass and now the clay of Paris.

There may be no Rafael Nadal this year – and this will be the first final not to feature one of the 14-time winner, Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer since 2004 – but the French Open could be about to crown a new Spanish champion on Sunday.

Alcaraz, who won both his previous Grand Slam finals, at the US Open and Wimbledon, said: “You have to find the joy in suffering, that’s the key, even more on clay in Roland Garros. Long rallies, four-hour matches, five sets, you have to suffer. But you have to enjoy suffering.

“The toughest matches I’ve played in my short career have been against Jannik. US Open, this one, and I hope to play many, many more matches like this one against Jannik – but it was one of the toughest matches, for sure.”

There was little of the intensity of their five hour, five-set marathon at the US Open in 2022, which was won by Alcaraz at 2.50am, as they shared the opening two sets.

The drama came at 2-2 in the third when Sinner began flexing his hands and limping a little, a tell-tale sign that he was cramping up.

Alcaraz had suffered with a similar affliction at the same stage last year, on his way to defeat by Djokovic.

“I saw him struggling a little bit,” added Alcaraz. “I was cramping, Jannik as well in the third set. You have to fight. Against Djokovic I was in the same position, but I learnt you have to stay there fighting because the cramp will go away.”

Despite two double-faults, Sinner managed a service hold after a lengthy game before receiving treatment at the changeover.

He then somehow conjured up a cross-court service return winner to break Alcaraz and take the third set.

However, two bad Sinner misses while serving at 4-5 in the fourth gave Alcaraz a set point which he took with a blistering cross-court winner.

Alcaraz broke again for 2-0 in the decider and held his nerve up the home straight, taking a third match point before raising both arms in triumph.

For Sinner it was a first defeat in 13 Grand Slam matches, having won the Australian Open in January, and he admitted it will be hard to watch the final.

“I mean, I always like to watch tennis, yes,” he said. “Let’s see, if I have time for sure I’m going to watch a little bit.

“But in the other way, it’s always tough to watch, especially when you’re in the semis, it hurts, because you know that you could be there and it’s a different feeling.”

Alcaraz will face Alexander Zverev after the German defeated two-time runner-up Casper Ruud of Norway 2-6 6-2 6-4 6-2.

The fourth seed, competing in his fourth straight Roland Garros semi-final, finally broke through to become the second German man to make the title clash in the Open Era and match Michael Stich’s feat from 1996.

“I am extremely happy,” Zverev said. “I have so much history on this court and had some of the best memories and worst memories on this court. I am so happy to be in the final finally on my fourth semi-final. I am going to give it my all on Sunday.”

He made a slow start as Ruud grabbed an early break and took the first set with some clean ball-striking in front of a sparse crowd, as fans were still recovering from the epic between Alcaraz and Sinner.

Having found his range in the second set, Zverev squandered the opportunity to grab a double break with a wayward volley but the 27-year-old pulled away to level the match and broke in the fifth game of third set before extending his advantage.

The 25-year-old Ruud slowly looked like himself again after dealing with a stomach issue, but his hopes of a third successive Paris final faded when Zverev struck in the Norwegian’s opening service game in the fourth set and ran away with the match.

Wilander: I’m so impressed with both guys

Three-time French Open champion Mats Wilander on Eurosport:

“It wasn’t on the same level as the US Open quarter-final two years ago but we’re never going to get that level on a clay-court – it’s too difficult to play like that but I’m so impressed with both guys.

“Alcaraz found the recipe to break Sinner down. I think he might have surprised himself with the guts and the tactical stamina.”

Henman: The resilience from both players was incredible

Former French Open semi-finalist Tim Henman said: “I think a word that epitomises both players is resilience. When things are not going well, they’re so tough, so strong, to keep fighting and never give up.

“The resilience from both players was absolutely incredible and I just hope we get to see this match-up many times in the future.”

What’s coming up on Sky Sports Tennis?

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• Stuttgart Open (ATP 250 with Andy Murray in action) – June 10-16
• Rosmalen Open (ATP/WTA 250) – June 10-16

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