World No 1 Jannik Sinner ended Novak Djokovic’s hopes of an historic 25th Grand Slam title as he set up a French Open final showdown with his closest rival Carlos Alcaraz.

Sinner, rejuvenated since returning from his three-month doping ban, continued his relentless pursuit of a maiden title at Roland-Garros with a punishing display of hitting against the 38-year-old as the Italian ace sealed a memorable 6-4 7-5 7-6 (7-3) victory.

The win ensured Sinner extended his winning run at the majors to 20 matches after his triumphs at last year’s US Open and the Australian Open in January.

The Italian, who lost to champion Alcaraz in the final four at Roland-Garros a year ago, will get a chance at revenge on Sunday when the duo lock horns for the very first time in a Grand Slam final.

Alcaraz back in final after ailing Musetti retires

Alcaraz will defend La Coupe des Mousquetaires after Lorenzo Musetti retired from their semi-final.

Italian Musetti won the first set and was playing some exquisite tennis under the roof on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

But the 23-year-old had treatment on his leg during a one-sided third set and called it a day after Alcaraz won nine games in a row with the score 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 2-0.

There were echoes of a match here four years ago when Musetti retired against Novak Djokovic at 4-0 down in the fifth, later saying he was not injured but that he quit because he was “not able to win a point”.

This time he revealed he had a problem with his thigh. “I felt it at the beginning of the third when I was serving, I started losing a little bit of strength on the left leg, behind,” he said.

“Definitely it was going worse and worse, so I decided to stop. I think it was the right decision to make, even if it was not what I wanted.”

Alcaraz, who will bid for a fifth Grand Slam title on Sunday, said: “It is never great getting through like this.

“Lorenzo is a great player. He has had an incredible clay season. He’s one of the few players who has achieved the semi-finals. I wish him all the best and a quick recovery.

“The first two sets were really tough. I had chances to break his serve in the match and I couldn’t make the most of it.

“He was playing great tennis. When I won the second set, there was relief. In the third I knew what I had to do – pushing him to the limit and trying to be aggressive.

“I was more calm and I could see this more clearly and I could play great tennis.”

How Alcaraz made it through to the final…

An exciting match looked on the cards when at 5-4 Musetti, who had not previously threatened the Alcaraz serve, suddenly broke to take the first set.

Alcaraz served for the second set but the tension he was feeling was palpable as Musetti broke straight back.

However, Alcaraz reset in the tie-break and, although Musetti saved two set points, he dumped a third into the net.

Musetti planted his hand onto his face after a bad miss handed the initiative to Alcaraz, who grabbed the early break in the third.

Suddenly the shackles were off for Alcaraz while Musetti was labouring, winning just five points as the set disappeared over the horizon.

The eighth seed had received treatment on his left leg but was still clearly hindered and when Alcaraz broke for 2-0 in the fourth, he decided to throw in the towel.

Musetti is scheduled to play at Queen’s Club in just over a week in the build-up to Wimbledon.

But he added: “It’s too early to say. Of course in the programme it’s next tournament Queen’s, and then of course Wimbledon.

“But of course we are going to evaluate tomorrow what the examinations will say, and take a decision for what’s next.”

Is Alcaraz heading in the right direction?

Three-time French Open champion Mats Wilander, speaking on TNT Sports, said: “When he won the French Open last year, that’s when I really realised this guy is the real deal. He plays better when he has to play good and he’s kept that going until this year. He plays great when he has to play great and sometimes he’s loose and he’s too loose against players he’s going to beat anyway but on the other hand he saves energy in those matches.

“He’s heading in the direction where he’s getting better and better and if the other guys are going to stay with him, you have to improve.”

Tim Henman, the 2004 French Open semi-finalist, added: “You feel sometimes he’s in third gear. He drops a set but he has that ability to find the solutions at the right moment and then as the match gets bigger, the intensity increases, he plays better. We do wonder how many Slams he’s going to win in his career.”

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