In a commanding display at Roland Garros, Carlos Alcaraz secured a spot in the French Open semifinals by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets. The Spanish third seed, aged 21, clinched a 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4 victory over the Greek ninth seed, setting up a highly anticipated showdown against the incoming world number one, Jannik Sinner.
This marks the second consecutive year that Alcaraz has bested Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals of the Paris major. With this win, Alcaraz maintains a perfect record against Tsitsipas, having won all six of their career meetings.
Meanwhile, second seed Jannik Sinner continued his impressive run at Roland Garros, defeating Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) in his quarterfinal match earlier in the day. Sinner’s victory, coupled with Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal due to a leg injury, means that Sinner is poised to ascend to the top of the ATP rankings.
Reflecting on the prospect of becoming the new world number one, Sinner expressed gratitude while acknowledging Djokovic’s unfortunate exit from the tournament. He stated, “It’s every player’s dream to become number one in the world. On the other hand, seeing Novak retiring [from the tournament] is disappointing, so I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Djokovic’s withdrawal ensures that there will be a new name engraved on the Coupe des Mousquetaires after Sunday’s men’s singles final. Alcaraz, with his stellar performance against Tsitsipas, strengthens his bid for the coveted title.
Despite arriving at Roland Garros with an arm injury that limited his preparations on clay courts, Alcaraz showcased his resilience and skill throughout the tournament. With a protective arm sleeve still in place, Alcaraz demonstrated his ability to navigate challenges and deliver impressive performances on the court.
Alcaraz’s swift start in the quarterfinal match, breaking Tsitsipas in the opening game and securing the first set in just 31 minutes, set the tone for his dominant performance. Despite Tsitsipas’s efforts to regroup, Alcaraz maintained control, ultimately sealing the victory with composure and precision.
“It was a very good match, I played great. I controlled my emotions and I was really calm in the moments I had to be,” remarked Alcaraz, reflecting on his performance.
With Alcaraz set to face off against Sinner in the semifinals, tennis enthusiasts eagerly await the outcome of what promises to be an enthralling match-up at Roland Garros.
