Alcaraz forces fifth set against Sinner in Roland Garros SF

 Alcaraz forces fifth set against Sinner in Roland Garros SF

Carlos Alcaraz has forced a deciding set in his semi-final clash with Jannik Sinner on Friday at Roland Garros. The Spaniard won the fourth set to level the match at 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

In one of the most anticipated matches of the year, both players have shown their best at times on Court Philippe-Chatrier. After a topsy-turvy first two sets, Sinner suffered with hand cramp at 2-2 in the third set, regularly shaking out his hand between points. Although his service speed dropped in the game, the Italian saved four break points to survive on serve before he received treatment at 3-2.

He came out firing on the resumption to break Alcaraz immediately and held firm on serve to move ahead. Alcaraz refused to surrender in the fourth, though, with both players striking the ball with clean and effortless timing. With little to separate them, the World No. 3 Alcaraz found more quality and intensity in his play at the end of the fourth set to win it and force a decider.

Sinner and Alcaraz are locked at 4-4 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, with their meeting in Paris their third at a major.

Sinner, who will climb to No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time on Monday, is chasing his second major title, having triumphed at the Australian Open earlier this year. The 22-year-old arrived in the French capital having missed Rome due to a hip injury.

However, he has looked impressive en route to the semi-finals, dropping just one set. If Sinner overcomes Alcaraz, he will become the second Italian man in the Open Era to reach the final at Roland Garros, joining 1976 champion Adriano Panatta. The 13-time tour-level titlist is 33-2 on the year.

Sinner raced out of the blocks against Alcaraz, breaking the 21-year-old’s serve in the opening game to gain an immediate foothold. The Italian swung freely and showed little sign of nerves throughout the first set in contrast to Alcaraz, who struggled to find his range in the early stages. Alcaraz did eventually get on the board in the fifth game, but it was too little too late in the set, with Sinner remaining relentless from the baseline to lead. Sinner committed nine unforced errors in the set compared to 12 from Alcaraz.

Alcaraz raised his performance in the second set to force his way back into the clash. The 13-time tour-level titlist capitalised on Sinner’s lack of depth to open up the court, playing aggressive, front-foot tennis to shift momentum. The Spaniard had a spring in his step after breaking back at the start of the set and bounced back to his chair after sealing the second set on his first set point. Sinner committed 12 unforced errors in the set and hit just three winners to allow Alcaraz a foothold in the clash.

With momentum going his way, Alcaraz then broke Sinner’s serve early in the third set to take control, but the Italian responded by winning three games on the spin. The 22-year-old broke back for 2-2 before he fended off four break points on his serve to move 3-2 ahead. He received treatment for cramp at 3-2 and then took further control when he produced a moment of magic on return, hitting a backhand winner crosscourt on break point to lead 4-2. Sinner closed out the set on serve to move to within a set of his first Roland Garros final.

In a high-quality fourth set, both players hammered the ball from the baseline. The Italian and Spaniard went blow for blow with their thunderous groundstrokes and at 4-4, there was little to divide them. With a raucous crowd enjoying every minute, it was Alcaraz who found the decisive breakthrough, teeing off when he could to force a fifth set after three hours and 16 minutes.

Like Sinner, Alcaraz missed Rome due to injury but has been comfortable on the Parisian clay to reach his second semi-final at the major. The Spaniard, who sunk Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets in the quarter-finals, is aiming to reach his third Grand Slam final, having won the US Open in 2022 and Wimbledon in 2023.

If he can overcome Sinner, the 21-year-old will become the youngest player to advance to a major final on all three surfaces and the second youngest Roland Garros men’s singles finalist since 2000. Rafael Nadal reached the title match in 2005, 2006 and 2007 aged 19-21.