Alcaraz Outlasts Sinner In 5, Zverev Tops Sick Ruud In French Open Semifinals

by Staff | June 7th, 2024, 4:54 pm
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The Carlos AlcarazJannik Sinner rivalry continues to impress as today the last two new No. 1s played to a fifth set in the French Open semifinals with Alcaraz pulling it out 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in 2 hours, 35 minutes.

“You have to find the joy suffering,” Alcaraz said after. “That is the key, even more here on clay at Roland Garros. Long rallies, four hour matches, five sets. You have to fight, you have to suffer but as I told my team, you have to enjoy suffering.”

In his first French semifinal, Sinner came out ripping early going up a set and 2-0 in the second. But then Alcaraz was able to find the range on his shots and the crowd got involved. Alcaraz began to steamroll winning six of the next seven games.


Sinner began to cramp in his hand and his legs, but somehow was able to grab the third. Alcaraz would later admit that he, too, was cramping.

In the fourth, Alcaraz raised his game as he looked the fresher player, and took it another level in the fifth to improve to 10-1 in five set matches. He’s now 5-4 against Sinner.

“The toughest matches that I have played in my short career have been against Jannik,” Alcaraz said. “The US Open in 2022, this one. Jannik is a great player. The team he has as well and the great work he puts in every day and I hope to play him many, many more matches like this against him. One of the toughest matches that I have played for sure.”

Alcaraz is into his third Grand Slam final and on his third different surface.

“I saw him struggling a little bit in the [third set], but I was cramping as well in the third set,” Alcaraz said. “I learned from last year’s match against Djokovic and was in the same position today. But I learned you have to be calm, to keep going because the cramp is going to go away. You have to fight.

“The third set was a little bit weird but the fourth set and fifth set were great points.”

Sinner’s 12-match Slam win streak is over but there was early doubt he would even be able to play the French Open.

“I think it was a great match. For sure the sets he won he played better in the important points, no? I think that was the key,” Sinner said. “Obviously disappointed how it ended, but, you know, it’s part of my growing and the process. Thinking back, before the tournament reaching this point, I’m obviously very happy. In the other way, I’m disappointed about the match today.

“Now I’ll just keep looking forward to improve, trying to do the best I can, and then we see what I can do in the future here in this tournament. If we watch the positive side, I have improved from last year, for sure. There is another chance to play here for the Olympics. Then we see how it goes.”

Sunday, he’ll meet the streaking Alexander Zverev who also rallied from a set down. In his rematch with Casper Ruud, Ruud stormed out early and looked the fresher player after three days off. Zverev appeared to be a step slow as Ruud had the German on the run.

Ruud, though, was suffering with a stomach issue and it eventually hit hard in the second. Zverev would dominate behind his serve and eventually pull away for a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win to reach his second Slam final.

“I am extremely happy,” Zverev said to the ATP. “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.

“I thought the first two sets were very high level. End of third set I saw he started to move a bit slower. That is normally how it is when you are not feeling quite well,” he said. “But his shots are still the same. So if you look at how he moves and all that and if you start to be a bit more passive, he is going to win the match. Credit to him to play until the end and fight until the end. He is a great champion and a great person.”

Zverev actually leads Alcaraz 5-4 and he leads 2-1 in Slams and also on clay. Zverev beat Alcaraz at the Australian Open this year and at the French in 2022.

Earlier today, Zverev had his domestic abuse court case settled so it was about a good a day as he could have had.


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Top story: Sinner Swallows Up Zverev For Second Straight Australian Open, 3rd Slam