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Alcaraz advances to the French Open finals by defeating Sinner.

Alcaraz defeats the current top player, breaking a age-old record. The dynamic in the thrilling yet not consistently high-level match shifts frequently. Will Zverev or Ruud join him in the final?

Prevailed in five sets against Jannik Sinner: The Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
Prevailed in five sets against Jannik Sinner: The Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.

Young tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz has emerged victorious in an exciting five-set battle against Jannik Sinner, making it to the French Open final for the first time. The 21-year-old Spaniard triumphed with a 2:6, 6:3, 3:6, 6:4, 6:3 victory. Sinner, aged 22, seemed fatigued near the end of the game, and Alcaraz now just needs one more win to clinch his third Grand Slam title.

Alcaraz's impressive performance in defeating the future number 1 in world rankings has earned him a place as the youngest player in the professional era to reach a Grand Slam final on all three surfaces: sand, grass, and hard court. Previously, he emerged successful in his previous Grand Slam final showdowns at the US Open 2022 and Wimbledon 2023.

On Sunday at Stade Roland Garros, Alcaraz will compete in the finale, taking on either Alexander Zverev, Germany's Olympic champion, or Casper Ruud from Norway. The second semi-final match will occur on Court Philippe Chatrier in the evening.

A jittery start

Before the match, Alcaraz had admired his opponent from South Tyrol as the best player in the world at the moment and commented admiringly, "Everything he does, he does perfectly." Indeed, Sinner started with a lead of two sets and two breaks after merely 16 minutes, winning over the audience with his skillful performance.

Nonetheless, Alcaraz reclaimed his footing during the second set. Despite his earlier struggles, he took control of the lengthy rallies. Sinner, who had recovered from a previous hip injury and had been out of action for weeks due to it, experienced erratic performance and struggled to maintain his serve and movement.

Sinner rebounded slightly during the third set, but the Italian's resilience wavered, with him needing assistance from a physiotherapist due to cramps in his arm and leg. Exhausted and unable to thwart Alcaraz's forces, he ultimately faltered in the fifth set.

Spectator Incident

The confrontation between Sinner and Alcaraz marked the youngest Grand Slam semi-final since 2008, when Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray faced each other in the semi-finals of the US Open. However, a momentary disruption occurred in the fourth set due to a spectator in the stands passing out. "Bring them water," Alcaraz requested during the intermission.

Tense transition

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