Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz this afternoon they competed in the first semi-final of Roland Garros. The most interesting challenge in the men’s singles of the Transalpine Slam, the other will be between Ruud and Zverev. A match that felt like a final, between the two predestined youngsters of international tennis. The precedents were in favor of the Spaniard 5-4, including the first match at Challenger level of 2019. Today the scenario has completely changed, they have changed, matured over the years, with crowds of fans who adore them. The two know each other very well, friends for a long time, they train together, they also did it on the Parisian clay courts. Both came from two injuries: the Spaniard on his arm, the blue on his hip which forced him to stop for three weeks. And perhaps it was this long stop that prevented Sinner from winning the match. After a painful, tough, at times spectacular match, it was the Spaniard who won in the long run over five sets. The South Tyrolean fought until the end, at a certain point, after two hours of play, he also suffered cramps in one hand. But he fails to get the better of the Spaniard. After the first set won easily by the Italian, Carlitos regains the necessary confidence and wins the second set. Jannik hits the second, Alcaraz the fourth. And the Spaniard was the fifth to become a finalist, who will now face him in the final on Sunday Alexander Zverev.
“I’ve improved on clay. The hip doesn’t worry me
Jannik Sinner’s comment, after the semi-final defeat against Carlos Alcaraz on the clay of Roland Garros: “If we look on the bright side, I have made a step forward on this surface. Now let’s see the Olympics which are very important to me. Let’s see how it goes”.
“It was a good match, obviously sorry for how it ended. But this is part of the game. Now I look forward to improving”, continued the Italian number 1 in the world, adding: “I try to give the best I can and let’s see what I can do in the future.”
To those who asked what his most personal wishes were, the blue replied: “I am a happy person, if I’m not happy, I live a good life, right? I play tennis, I like playing tennis. Then we’ll see how it goes.”
FIRST WEEK
Jannik starts strong with a double break to the Spaniard. The blue immediately takes the lead 3-0, Alcaraz looks for the baseline but Sinner plays in attack to enter the field, a tactic that seems to work very well. The Spaniard misses free shots and after 15 minutes of play he is down 0-4, an unthinkable score but Jannik is “unplayable” he holds serve easily and moves his opponent a lot. Alcaraz even wins the first important point in the fifth game, a point that gives confidence, in fact Carlitos holds serve and shortens 1-4. Sinner plays his match deep and heavy shots which also hurt his Spanish friend. But the Spanish player is someone who doesn’t give up, even when faced with a compromised set. The heat is felt and Jannik concedes a break point at 4-1 which the Spaniard doesn’t let slip. Then Jannik gives up serve and Carlitos shortens, 2-4. On the service turn the Spaniard gives up the serve again. Now Sinner can close the first half, the serve works, the Italian wins the first set 6-2 in 43 minutes.
SECOND WEEK
Jannik starts as he finished the first half, wins Alcaraz’s turn of service even if the Spaniard seems more involved in the match. Excellent start also in the second half, the Italian serves at 1-0. But it starts badly with the first double fault of the match, down by 15, the Spaniard up until now is unrecognizable, many gratuitous errors. At the net the Italian restores parity at 30 all, after a powerful exchange the Spaniard grants the game ball to Jannik who makes no mistake, drop shot and game in the icebox, 2-0. A day in which Alcaraz concedes a lot, in serve but also from the baseline, his “zone”. The Spaniard wins the game, moves more and tries to move Sinner more, a winning tactic, but is always one break down. Sinner is solid, he misses very few balls, very few free ones, but Jannik gives up the serve, now another match begins, in fact the Spaniard takes the lead for the first time in the whole match 3-2 Alcaraz but Jannik is on serve, the second set is played for 25 minutes. Now it is Jannik who moves the opponent, the third drop shot of the match 15-0, now the Spaniard is absolutely in the game, Sinner misses an attacking ball and the Spaniard ties the score at 30 all then with a heavy exchange he moves Sinner to the left and he gets a break point which he wins after a bad mistake by the Italian. The Spaniard is ahead by a break and serves at 4-2. Jannik has to play “high” defensive shots from the back, but the Italian is still mobile and when he can he enters the field a lot. At this point the match becomes exciting, fighting on all balls, Sinner misses a bad backhand ball and gives the game to Carlitos. Sinner serves to extend the second set, down 2-5 with Alcaraz who has taken the measure of him, a very important game to win by the blue who succeeds in his aim and takes the lead to 3-5. Alcaraz serving for the set. Bad game by Jannik who gives up game and set, draw between the two contenders 6-2 3-6. Now another match begins after almost 2 hours of play.
Associated Press/LaPresse
Tennis, Alcaraz vs Sinner – Roland Garros 2024 semi-final
THIRD WEEK
Everything has to be done again for Jannik who starts the third half serving, behind by 15 he then manages to win the game, a good start for the blue who closes the net. But the Spaniard quickly re-establishes parity on serve and actually takes a risk in Sinner’s service game and manages to break him after a demanding game also from a physical point of view. Match now at 2-1 for the Spaniard. Alcaraz is improving physically, Sinner seems tired, Alcaraz wins a magnificent point with a stop volley like a true champion, Jannik in difficulty, but goes ahead by 15 thanks to a double fault from the Spaniard, then Alcaraz restores parity, but Jannik he feels that he cannot lose this game and wins a break point which he brings home, re-establishing parity in the third set 2-2. Sinner seems short of breath, he holds his very long serve with some difficulty, but now Jannik’s serve seems to work less and as mentioned he seems short of breath. 3-2 Sinner, the Italian comes out of the game well and regenerated, always aware of his strength, and against the world no.3 it is fundamental. Now Alcaraz also feels tired, Jannik wants to win the third set, he gets a break point, but with a serve & volley the Spaniard restores parity, then another break point which the Italian wins with an extraordinary passer. 4-2 Sinner. All the games at this point last a long time, it is difficult to bring home a turn of serve but the number 1 in the ranking holds and takes a lead of 5-2. Alcaraz serving to extend the third set, the Spaniard finds excellent angles especially on the forehand and brings the match to 3-5, Now Jannik “on serve” to close the third set. But the Italian starts badly with another double fault, too many today, but at the net Sinner recovers on 15, then another and an ace, now he has 2 set points. Free error by Alcaraz which gives the third set to the Italian 6-3.
FOURTH SEP
Super Sinner gritted his teeth, despite the difficulties in his legs and the cramp in his hand. The Italian has very clear ideas. He gets to 2-2 with the blue more reactive and concentrated, while the Spaniard starts to get impatient again. The two protagonists now face each other head on in this very tough but also spectacular match. Both looking for solutions to beat the other. And blow by blow Alcaraz takes the lead to 4-3. No break points so far and more than three hours of play. But Sinner responds to the Spaniard’s new charge and it’s a draw: 4-4. At 40-15 in the ninth game for Alcaraz, a spectator doesn’t feel well and the game stops. It’s very hot on the pitch today. But everything seems fine and he starts playing again after a few minutes. And the Spaniard holds serve and takes the lead at 5-4. The match now seems to be in the hands of Carlitos who wins the set 6-4.
FIFTH SEP
And it will be the fifth set to decide who will go to the final. Now we need to understand the physical fitness of both of them, who come from two injuries: the Spaniard in his arm and the Italian in his hip. In this fraction it is Carlitos who has the upper hand and takes the lead to 4-1 with ease. The South Tyrolean has left the initiative to his opponent too many times. The blue lacks a bit of strength and resistance. Alcaraz seems to take off by winning the first game, taking the second from Sinner and also winning the third. The fourth goes to Sinner on serve but Alcaraz also holds his serve and takes the lead to 4-1. Sixth game to Sinner who leaves the Spaniard empty, 4-2. Alcaraz serving again, the game is 5-2 for him and the match seems decided. Sinner holds serve and it goes 5-3. And after almost 4 hours of play it is the Spaniard who wins the fifth and decisive set 6-4. Great hits, comebacks, suffering: the Paris match of the present and future of tennis between Sinner and Alcaraz met all the predictions. The blue, perhaps, in the long run over the five sets paid for the inactivity due to the hip problems.
When they told him that from Monday 10 June he would become number 1 in the world, for the first time, at just 22 years old, his first thought was of whoever was giving him the top of the world, that Novak Djokovic forced to retire from Roland Garros. This is Jannik Sinner, a kind, thoughtful boy, who at 13 years old dreamed of becoming number 1 in the world, and who today made his dream come true. The news arrived during the quarter-final match, against the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, during a hard-fought third set. Sinner won with a score of 6-2, 6-4, 7-6, in two hours and 29 minutes, reaching the semi-final of a Slam for the third time, after Wimbledon 2023 and the Australian Open, which he then won, in early 2024. The blue’s comment: “It’s everyone’s dream to become number 1. But at the same time, seeing that Djokovic withdrew is a disappointment for everyone. I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Before the South Tyrolean, it was Carlitos himself who reached the No. 1 position in the ranking but now, by virtue of the results achieved by Sinner from autumn 2023 to today, it is the Italian who celebrates at the top of the ranking. Today he played on clay, a surface that the Spaniard prefers, but here too the gap between the two has narrowed considerably. They both come from periods where their physical condition was not up to the seasonal commitments, but they are making a great recovery. From a technical point of view, nothing to say, the pitch, the desire, the suffering will make the difference, and they both know it.
The rise of Jannik Sinner: from number 1592 to number 1. The sacrifices of a determined teenager who did everything to get to the roof of the world, far from home, from his dearest loved ones, his family, who he never forgets to thank. And in six years the dream becomes reality.
