Sean Leahy
French Open semifinals: Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev win, head to Sunday's final at Roland-Garros
This will be the first French Open final appearance for both Alcaraz and Zverev.
It will be Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev in the 2024 French Open men's singles final (Sunday, 9 a.m. ET; NBC).
Zverev finished off Casper Ruud in four sets, 6-2, 2-6, 4-6, 6-2 to move on to his first final at Roland-Garros. The 27-year-old German has reached at least the semifinal round every year since 2021.
This will be Zverev's second appearance in a Grand Slam final after falling to Dominic Thiem in the 2020 U.S. Open final.
Alcaraz advanced after a five-set thriller in the first semifinal over Jannik Sinner, 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Despite the loss, Sinner will ascent to the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings after the French Open. Meanwhile, the 21-year-old Spanish star will get a crack at the third leg of the career Grand Slam on Sunday, after having won Wimbledon in 2023 and the US Open in 2022.
In an event that has been dominated by Rafael Nadal over the past two decades, this will be just the second time since Nadal's first French Open win in 2005 that a member of the "Big 3" (Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer) won't win the tournament. Stan Wawrinka won the French Open men's singles title back in 2015.
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Zverev books a spot in his first Roland Garros final! 🎟️ #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/hw9T3CXqfx
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) June 7, 2024
- Sean Leahy
Zverev closes out Ruud with his 19th ace of the match and will now face Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's final.
Ruud 6 2 4 2
Zverev 2 6 6 6
- Sean Leahy
Zverev pulling away now. He's on the verge of moving on to his first final at Roland-Garros.
Ruud 6 2 4 2
Zverev 2 6 6 5
- Sean Leahy
Each time Ruud gets close, Zverev pulls a way a little more. He takes the sixth game with an ace and approaches finishing off Ruud.
Ruud 6 2 4 2
Zverev 2 6 6 4
- Sean Leahy
Ruud keeps fighting as he takes the fifth game.
Ruud 6 2 4 2
Zverev 2 6 6 3
- Sean Leahy
Zverev with a fantastic return to take the fourth game and move closer to taking this match.
Ruud 6 2 4 1
Zverev 2 6 6 3
- Sean Leahy
Ruud roars back in the fourth set and takes the third game
Ruud 6 2 4 1
Zverev 2 6 6 2
- Kari Anderson
Ruud is having a spirited disagreement with the umpire over where on the line the ball hit, and is seemingly arguing about the angle of the ball. His appeal does not convince the umpire and Zverev goes up and takes the game.
Ruud 6 2 4 0
Zverev 2 6 6 2
- Kari Anderson
Zverev gets one just inside the line and Ruud hits it into the net, giving Zverev the first game win in what could be the final set...if Zverev keeps this up.
Ruud 6 2 4 0
Zverev 2 6 6 1
- Sean Leahy
An adventurous 10th game sees Zverev start with a pair of aces, then double fault. But he rebounded to finish off the third set with two more aces and is now a set away from advancing to face Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's men's final.
Ruud 6 2 4
Zverev 2 6 6
- Sean Leahy
Zverev puts one into the net and Ruud takes the ninth game. Zverev will serve looking to go up 2 sets to 1.
Ruud 6 2 4
Zverev 2 6 5
- Sean Leahy
Zverev moves to within a game of taking the third set by blowing an ace by Ruud.
Ruud 6 2 3
Zverev 2 6 5
- Sean Leahy
Ruud not going down without a fight in this set. He battles to take the seventh game.
Ruud 6 2 3
Zverev 2 6 4
- Sean Leahy
Zverev moves closer to winning the third set by taking the sixth game.
Ruud 6 2 2
Zverev 2 6 4
- Sean Leahy
Zverev wins his second straight game and takes the advantage in the third set.
Ruud 6 2 2
Zverev 2 6 3
- Sean Leahy
We're back to a tied third set as Zverev wins the fourth game.
Ruud 6 2 2
Zverev 2 6 2
- Sean Leahy
Slice and dice 💥 @CasperRuud98 | #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/AvuEWTufXE
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) June 7, 2024
- Sean Leahy
Ruud goes up by taking the third game in the third set.
Ruud 6 2 2
Zverev 2 6 1
- Sean Leahy
Zverev answers back with an ace to even up the third set.
Ruud 6 2 1
Zverev 2 6 1
- Sean Leahy
Ruud bounces back and takes the first game of the third set.
Ruud 6 2 1
Zverev 2 6 0
- Sean Leahy
Zverev closes out the second set and this match is even heading into the third.
Ruud 6 2
Zverev 2 6
- Kari Anderson
Zverev takes the next two games, and is one games away from taking the set and evening the score.
Ruud 6 1
Zverev 2 5
- Sean Leahy
Ruud picks up the seventh game of the second set and still trails 5-2.
Ruud 6 2
Zverev 2 5
- Kari Anderson
And Zverev slides to another easy win, building up a solid lead.
Ruud 6 1
Zverev 2 3
- Kari Anderson
Zverev takes the second game easily, but this third game has been a close one, with the two trading leads multiple times. In the end, Ruud takes the game with two well-placed volleys — poetic, given that Zverev's missed volley lost him the advantage
Consistency 👏#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/Ma9GwqidUO
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 7, 2024
Ruud 6 1
Zverev 2 2
- Kari Anderson
Zverev starts the second set with a win, taking a 1-0 lead.
Ruud 6 0
Zverev 2 1
- Kari Anderson
Ruud is a golfer, and was seen working on his swing before the match. Maybe some of that golfer's mentality translated to his game — he's been playing calm and controlled so far.
Casper Ruud had golf on his mind before his semifinal match at #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/EPhcrLC2rI
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) June 7, 2024
- Kari Anderson
Ruud takes the set, in part with the help of a creative soft touch that lands near the net to get to the set point. Some strong play so far between the two semifinalists, but Ruud takes the first victory of the match.
That Casper calm™️#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/IaYNTaAcCC
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 7, 2024
Ruud 6
Zverev 2
- Kari Anderson
Ruud takes the next quickly, putting him a game away from taking the first set.
Ruud 5
Zverev 2
- Kari Anderson
Zverev breezes through that game, a strong showing after a shaky start.
Ruud 4
Zverev 2
- Kari Anderson
And Ruud gains one back.
Ruud 4
Zverev 1
- Kari Anderson
The tide turns and Zverev takes the next game.
Ruud 3
Zverev 1
- Kari Anderson
Ruud easily slides through the second game, and takes the third relatively easily as well. Ruud seemingly has the upper hand so far, sealing the 3-0 lead with a well-placed hit towards the back of the court.
Ruud 3
Zverev 0
- Kari Anderson
Ruud takes the first game, but things are already very closely matched between the two players. We'll have to see how this progresses.
Ruud 1
Zverev 0
- Kari Anderson
And we're off with the second semifinal! Norwegian Casper Ruud takes on German Alexander Zverev to battle for the other spot in this year's French Open Final.
Zverev v. Ruud. To book a final clash with Alcaraz 🍿#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/SY8IERu1pr
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 7, 2024
- Kari Anderson
Alcaraz said in a post match interview that this is one of the toughest matches he's ever played, and said that his toughest games are against Sinner. The two young tennis phenoms are competitors, but also friends with a lot of respect for each other
"You have to find the joy in the suffering," Alcaraz said of the marathon game.
Until we meet again ✊#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/9dBgUH6OJM
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 7, 2024
- Kari Anderson
Alcaraz wins, and moves on to the French Open Final.
Carlos clinches his spot in the final! 💥 @carlosalcaraz | #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/MWiyTpH9l5
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) June 7, 2024
- Kari Anderson
And there it is! Alcaraz forces Sinner to overshoot the ball and takes the match, advancing to the French Open final. It's been a marathon for these two, but the young Spaniard has come out on top after forcing a fifth set.
Carlos Alcaraz: the youngest men’s player to reach a Grand Slam final on all three surfaces 🙌🇪🇸#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/OaztGD5QCy
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 7, 2024
Alcaraz 2 6 3 6 6
Sinner 6 3 6 4 3
- Kari Anderson
Alcaraz hits the ball out of bounds and loses out on finishing the match...but takes the advantage next point. Match point #3 incoming.
Alcaraz 2 6 3 6 5
Sinner 6 3 6 4 3
- Kari Anderson
Alcaraz and Sinner are making each other run, hitting the ball into open space and keeping each other on their toes. Alcaraz initially takes the lead, but Sinner ties to force an advantage...which Alcaraz promptly takes. Match point.
Alcaraz 2 6 3 6 5
Sinner 6 3 6 4 3
- Kari Anderson
Alcaraz and Sinner have just hit four hours of play — and it's been four high-energy hours as well. With Alcaraz on the edge of taking the match, Sinner is fighting back, and takes the game to keep this match going.
Alcaraz 2 6 3 6 5
Sinner 6 3 6 4 3
- Kari Anderson
Alcaraz goes up for an early lead, but Sinner ties it up with a well-hit ball. However, Alcaraz holds on to take the game. He's just one game away from the Final.
Alcaraz 2 6 3 6 5
Sinner 6 3 6 4 2
- Yahoo Sports Staff
High-level, creative shotmaking on display between these two superstars
Around the net! ☄ @janniksin | #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/81M2XJ4Ip3
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) June 7, 2024
- Kari Anderson
An easy game win for Sinner as Alcaraz makes a few crucial mistakes.
Alcaraz 2 6 3 6 4
Sinner 6 3 6 4 2
- Kari Anderson
Sinner forces a few errors out of Alcaraz to tighten the score, but Alcaraz slides one over the net (literally, at one point) to take the advantage. He takes the game and is now just two games away from advancing. Still, Sinner is using his creativity to push back against the young Spaniard.
Alcaraz 2 6 3 6 4
Sinner 6 3 6 4 1
- Kari Anderson
Alcaraz has done a great job of playing with space — a soft touch right over the net, followed by a harder hit to the back corner. But Sinner is fighting back by threading the needle down the side, and it earns him his first game of the set.
Alcaraz 2 6 3 6 3
Sinner 6 3 6 4 1
- Kari Anderson
Alcaraz and Sinner are matching each other with high-exerting, exciting tennis, but Alcaraz's effort takes the first three games of the set. He is now three games away from taking the match...can Sinner respond?
Alcaraz 2 6 3 6 3
Sinner 6 3 6 4 0
- Sean Leahy
We're tied up! Alcaraz forces a fifth and deciding set.
Alcaraz 2 6 3 6
Sinner 6 3 6 4
🇪🇸 6-4
ALCARAZ FORCES A DECIDER! #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/I4zzNny5tx— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 7, 2024
- Sean Leahy
According to the Tennis Channel, the fan who needed medical attention is being helped out of the stadium on his own feet.
- Sean Leahy
Alcaraz is a game away from tying this match. He takes the ninth game to go up 5-4 in the fourth set.
Alcaraz 2 6 3 5
Sinner 6 3 6 4