French Open: Classy Carlos Alcaraz pays tribute to 'incredible' Lorenzo Musetti after seeing opponent retire injured in semi-final at Roland-Garros

Carlos Alcaraz and Lorenzo Musetti were putting on a show in the semi-final of the 2025 French Open. However, the Italian was forced to retire in the fourth set due to injury. After the clash, the world No. 2 wished his opponent a speedy recovery and admitted that he had been pushed to the limit during the opening two sets. Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner will face off in the other semi-final.

Carlos Alcaraz wished Lorenzo Musetti a speedy recovery after the Italian was forced to withdraw from their French Open semi-final due to injury.

Musetti enjoyed an excellent start to the match, but the world No. 2 had retaken control by the time his opponent retired, and was leading 4-6 7-6(3) 6-0 2-0.

Alcaraz can now look ahead to his second successive French Open final where he will hope to retain his crown against either Novak Djokovic or Jannik Sinner.

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However, he admitted that he did not want to win his semi-final against Musetti the way he did.

"Well, it is not great, you know, winning the match like this," said the four-time Grand Slam winner.

"Lorenzo is a great player, he has had an incredible clay season, he is one of the few players who reached at least the semi-finals on the big events on clay.

"Just four players have done it before, and he is the fifth player, so that shows what an incredible player he is.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

"I wish him all the best with his recovery. I am sure that we are going to enjoy his tennis again pretty soon."

Alcaraz defeated Alexander Zverev in the final of last year's French Open to win the tournament for the first time.

Musetti impressed in the early stages of the match, but he was forced to take an injury time-out before retiring while 2-0 down in the fourth set.

Alcaraz revealed that the first two sets were a real challenge after progressing to the final.  

"The first two sets were really tough," he added. "I had chances to break his serve and be up in the match, but I could not make the most of it. He was playing great tennis.

"When I won the second set there was a feeling of relief and then, in the third set, I knew what I had to do from the beginning.

"I just had to push him to the limit and just try to be aggressive, and not let him dominate the game more.

'What a bummer!' - Reaction as Musetti forced to retire against Alcaraz in semi-final

Video credit: TNT Sports

"I just had to be myself, so I was calmer, I could see things more clearly and I could play more great tennis at the beginning of the third set."

Djokovic and Sinner will go head-to-head live on TNT Sports and discovery+ on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Alcaraz said that he will catch every second of the action in a bid to learn all he can ahead of the final.

"For sure [I will watch the other semi-final]," he said. "I am not going to miss it, this match up is one of the best we have in tennis right now.

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"Djokovic against Sinner is going to be great tennis, and as a huge fan of tennis I am going to watch it and I am going to enjoy it.

"Obviously I am going to take tactics from that match.

"We are all going to enjoy that match because they are going to play great tennis."

Stream the 2025 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+

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