The upcoming French Open semi-final between Carlos Alcaraz (21) and Jannik Sinner (22) is set to be a thrilling encounter that could mark the beginning of a new era in men’s tennis. Both players, under the age of 23, are poised to potentially dominate the sport for years to come. With Novak Djokovic withdrawing from the tournament due to a knee injury, the winner of this match is likely to be the favorite to win the Coupe des Mousquetaires, becoming the first new men’s singles French Open champion since 2016.
Alcaraz and Sinner, who are now tied 4-4 in their head-to-head record, will face each other for the third time in a Grand Slam and for the first time at Roland Garros. Both have displayed exceptional form, each dropping only one set in their previous five matches in the tournament.
Alcaraz, speaking to reporters, acknowledged the excitement surrounding this match. “I think everybody wants to watch this match,” he said. “When the draw came out, I think everybody wanted Jannik on my side, playing the semi-final. I think it’s going to be great for tennis and for the fans.”
Alcaraz expects a challenging battle against Sinner. “You have to run like it is a marathon, you know, side-to-side. Everything he does, he does it perfectly. The way that he hits the ball is unbelievable,” Alcaraz noted. He expressed his enthusiasm for the match, saying, “I love this kind of challenge, to have a really difficult battle against him. I love to find solutions, to find a way to beat him… I think those situations are great for tennis, when you have to try to find the right way.”
In the other semi-final, Casper Ruud, who has been the runner-up for the past two years, will face Alexander Zverev. Ruud, fresher from receiving a walkover in his quarter-final against Djokovic, will be looking to reach his third consecutive final. However, he will face a stern test from Zverev, who has consistently reached the semi-finals in the past three editions of the French Open but has yet to progress to the final.
Zverev, following his victory over Alex de Minaur, acknowledged Ruud’s prowess on clay. “Two finals in a row, third semi-final in a row, that speaks for itself. He’s one of the best players on this surface, for sure. I think I have to play my best tennis to have a chance,” Zverev said.
These semi-final matches are highly anticipated and promise to deliver high-quality tennis as these young talents vie for a place in the French Open final.
Source: GHmediahub
