Tennis
French Open
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Updated 40s ago
Men’s singles semifinals day at the 2025 French Open is in full swing as the four title hopes aim to reach Sunday’s Grand Slam final.
Champion Carlos Alcaraz (2) lost the first set against Paris Olympics bronze medalist Lorenzo Musetti (8) on show court Philippe-Chatrier at Roland Garros and needs to fight back against the Italian underdog.
In the later session, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner aims to make his first French Open final against seven-time finalist Novak Djokovic (6).
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Musetti 6-4, *4-4 Alcaraz
Alcaraz holds again, limiting the damage to just one break per set right now.
But most telling is the repeated scream of ‘Vamos!’ after the last couple of points.
He’s seemingly trying to fire himself up here — and therefore feeling he’s playing at a current level that needs a gee-up.
Which he is.
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By contrast, Lorenzo Musetti is serving at over 70 percent, which is most of why he has evaded some close games on serve.
This has not been a good serving day for Alcaraz, who has got 49 percent of his first deliveries in.
And he’s won just 67 percent of those points.
He needs to boost those numbers or this could get very awkward for him.
Musetti 6-4, 4-3* Alcaraz
Now is very much NOT the time for Lorenzo Musetti to open the door for Carlos Alcaraz — and a double fault at 15-15 threatens to do just that.
The next two are much better though, before the pair treat Chatrier to a lively rally that brings out the between-the-legs shot from Alcaraz…
And the forehand volley at the net from Musetti that tucks away the hold.
The excitable chattering from Italian Lorenzo Musetti’s box (no national stereotyping…) has been near-incessant.
‘Allez Lore’, ‘Forza Lore’, and plenty of other audible exhortations have been spurring Musetti on.
Not so much from Carlos Alcaraz’s side. Maybe that’s how he likes it.
But it feels like Musetti has more of the tide behind him in terms of support, cheers coming more generally for the underdog around Chatrier too, and is surfing the wave of that support.
Musetti 6-4, *3-3 Alcaraz
I just don’t think I’ve seen Alcaraz miss long and wide so often as he has so far here.
He is keeping it together though, and Musetti deserves huge credit for the performance level he has produced so far.
Another 30-30 for Musetti, but Alcaraz takes this one away from him in double-quick time to hold.
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Musetti’s vanishingly rare single-handed backhand tends to get more attention, but he’s hit a few huge forehands in the last couple of games to break back and then hold for 3-2.
He also changed things up in the last game by serve-volleying on more than one occasion.
Alcaraz just can’t quite string it together — he might need one of his trademark mad steal points to energise himself and the crowd.
A little surprised that Alcaraz hasn’t been on at the umpire about the closed roof.
The ball doesn’t bounce as high in these conditions, and that favors Musetti against Alcaraz’s heavy topspin — which can kick up off the clay on warm, dry days.
If it’s raining, that’s moot. With the weather how it is now, he’d have reason to complain.
The French Open is meant to be an outdoor sport.
Musetti 6-4, 3-2* Alcaraz
This is superb tennis from Musetti. Alcaraz pushes him here, getting a look at 30-30.
But from there, Musetti regains control and the clinching shot of his hold is a brilliant, dying forehand crosscourt that is simply too good for the Spaniard.
We’re in a fascinating stage of this match right now.
Musetti 6-4, *2-2 Alcaraz
And that is how you respond. Brilliant from Musetti, who floats around the court and just forces the return to those errors from Alcaraz.
He charges to 15-40 and only needs the first break point to break back, swiftly extinguishing that Alcaraz spark.
This is great from Musetti. He is really growing into this now.
I mentioned the importance of drop shots today, and that’s how Alcaraz secured his first break of the day.
Musetti overcooked his and Alcaraz responded with one that fluttered over the net and was out of his opponent’s reach.
Once seen as a cop-out or a party trick, the drop shot has gone from eccentric to essential. Indeed, it has become a vital tactic in both the men’s and women’s game.
Just ask Musetti — fresh from being on the receiving end of that feathery Alcaraz drop shot to be broken for the first time in today’s semifinal…
GO FURTHER
Drop shots in tennis go from eccentric to essential, with some help from Carlos Alcaraz
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Musetti 6-4, 1-2* Alcaraz
Now then, here comes the gear change… Alcaraz races to 0-40.
Then when Musetti tries to save the first of those three break points with a tidy drop shot, Alcaraz’s retort is so beautifully deft that Musetti just cannot get there.
Exceptional, brilliant, and a potential game-changer of a game.
Alcaraz’s first break of the match comes to love.
Musetti 6-4, *1-1 Alcaraz
A first ace of the match from Musetti — and indeed anyone — is a breezy opening to the second set. Alcaraz follows with a similarly routine hold next.
These margins feeling like they’re getting finer.
Both players started sharply, maybe Lorenzo Musetti slightly more so than Carlos Alcaraz.
There’s a lot to be said for being composed, but it felt like Alcaraz was meandering through winnable Musetti service games, not really attacking attainable points with the ravenous hunger and aggression he is known for.
Instead, it felt like the first set rather passed Alcaraz by and he sleepwalked to 4-5. Only 41 per cent of first-serve points won? That feels disappointing.
And some poor, uncharacteristic unforced errors — 16 in the first set — grouped together in that last service game means the set is gone and Alcaraz will have to win it in four.
He does appear to have different gears to utilise, though. I still back the Spaniard to come back now he has been stung by Musetti, who is not far off his absolute ceiling.
Carlos Alcaraz made three poor errors in one game and then lost the first set.
This match is indeed on his racket.
Look at that first serve percentage from Carlos Alcaraz. He’ll need to pick that up. Here are the first set numbers…
SET 1: Musetti 6-4 Alcaraz
Ruthless from Musetti to take his one and only break opportunity, and during a set where he didn’t really look like he was going to create one.
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Musetti 6-4, *0-0 Alcaraz
Now then… A beautiful clean forehand winner from Musetti and then a wild Alcaraz inside-out forehand gives Musetti his first look at 0-30.
Alcaraz goes long again under pressure and all of a sudden, Lorenzo Musetti has two set points…
And oh my! Alcaraz pulls another forehand wide. I feel bad for doubting Lorenzo now!
He takes the first set, 6-4.
Musetti 5-4* Alcaraz
Now that was better from Musetti. Some strong, assertive backhands in that little lot. A recuperating hold to 15 of his own and, in theory, he is one game away from the set.
But right now, it doesn’t feel like either player is particularly close to breaking the other.
Musetti *4-4 Alcaraz
Yes, as James says — there was a chance for Alcaraz in this latest game and it felt like he sensed he could take it.
But in fairness to Musetti, he’s continuing to find the guile to tick off these holds.
However, he is struggling to make any chances for himself. Alcaraz goes on to hold to 15 for a second successive service game — even with the odd piece of sparkly Musetti magic thrown in for good measure.
