Sinner beats Djokovic to secure French Open final with Alcaraz

After beating 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (3) in the French Open semifinal on Friday, Jannik Sinner must find a way past defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the final.

Sinner has not dropped a set en route to his first final at Roland-Garros, but Alcaraz has won their last four meetings and leads him 7-4 overall. Sinner is aiming for his fourth major title and Alcaraz his fifth.

"We try to push ourselves in the best possible way," Sinner said. "And the stage, it doesn't get any bigger now."

Djokovic could not counter Sinner's relentless accuracy and pounding forehands on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

"I tried to stay there mentally, trying to play every point in the right way with good intensity," Sinner said. "You have to be ready to counterattack. That's why it's very important to be focused, no? Because if you sleep, then the match is gone."

Sinner became the second Italian man to reach the final at Roland-Garros in the Open era, which began in 1968, after Adriano Panatta, the 1976 champion.

Djokovic fought back in the third set but wilted in the tiebreaker, somehow missing an easy smash at the net to trail 3-0 and then lost on the second match point he faced when his forehand hit the net.

"These are rare and special moments," Sinner said. "I'm very happy."

Djokovic was emotional and said it might have been his last ever match at Roland-Garros. He kissed his hand after the defeat, then put it on the clay, as if saying farewell to the stadium.

Earlier, Alcaraz led 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-0, 2-0 against Lorenzo Musetti when the eighth-seeded Italian retired with a leg injury.

Earlier, Musetti was struggling with his left leg. He was 5-0 down after 16 minutes of the third set when he called for a trainer. Alcaraz broke Musetti in the next game to clinch the set in 21 minutes, winning 24 of 29 points.

"It's not great to win a match like this. Lorenzo is a great player," Alcaraz said. "I wish him all the best."

Musetti called for the trainer again after the third set and, after Alcaraz broke his serve to lead 2-0, Musetti walked slowly up to the net and received a hug from Alcaraz.

"I felt at the beginning of the third when I was serving, I start losing a little bit of strength on the left leg behind," Musetti said. "Tomorrow I will do exams."

Frustration got to Alcaraz during the second set, and at one point he aimed a side-footed kick at his changeover seat.

"The first two sets were really tough," Alcaraz said. "When I won the second set I was relieved."

Musetti was playing in only his second major semifinal after reaching the same stage at Wimbledon last year. Alcaraz said he feels in top shape physically for the final.

"Really good. It's been three intense weeks but I'm feeling great," he said. "I have a lot of confidence right now."