Carlos Alcaraz, the rising star of Spanish tennis, has triumphed over Jannik Sinner in a thrilling semi-final match at the 2024 French Open. The match, which took place on June 7 at the iconic Court Philippe Chatrier, saw Alcaraz overcome Sinner with set scores of 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Despite falling behind twice, Alcaraz’s resilience shone through as he continually fought back, ultimately securing his place in the final. Sinner, who will be the new World No. 1, was unable to clinch a spot in the final, whereas Alcaraz maintained his lead throughout the decisive set.
At just 21 years old, Alcaraz has now reached the French Open final for the first time, making him the youngest man in history to reach finals on all three surfaces: hard court, grass court, and clay. This record was previously held by tennis legend Andre Agassi, who was 22 when he achieved the same feat.
This semi-final match marked the longest of Alcaraz’s career at Roland Garros. Despite the challenge posed by his friend Sinner, Alcaraz remained undeterred. “The toughest matches I have played in my short career have been against Jannik,” Alcaraz stated post-match. “You have to find the joy in suffering. That’s the key, even more here on clay in Roland Garros. Long rallies, four-hour matches, five sets. You have to fight, you have to suffer, as I told to my team many, many times, you have to enjoy suffer.”
Alcaraz’s opponent in the final will be determined after the second semi-final, featuring Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud. Both Zverev and Ruud are eager to capture their first Grand Slam title. If victorious, Alcaraz will become the eighth tennis player in the Open Era to win both Wimbledon and the French Open.