Carlos Alcaraz returns to French Open final after foe retires

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the French Open final Friday after Lorenzo Musetti retired due to a leg injury in Paris.

The second-seeded Spaniard was leading 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-0, 2-0 when Musetti was unable to continue the semifinal match. The Italian No. 8 seed received treatment on his left thigh during the third set.

"It's never great getting through or winning a match like this," Alcaraz said in his on-court interview. "Lorenzo is a great player. He has had an incredible clay season. (He is) one of the few players who achieved at least the semifinals at all the biggest events on clay. I think just four players had done that before ... I always wish him all the best, a quick recovery, and hopefully we are going to enjoy his tennis pretty soon."

With the win, Alcaraz advanced to Sunday's final against the winner of Friday's other semifinal contest pitting top-seeded Jannik Sinner of Italy and sixth-seeded Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion.

Alcaraz improved to 6-1 against Musetti, including wins in the Monte-Carlo final and the Rome semifinals this year.

"The first two sets were really tough," Alcaraz said. "I had chances to break his serve in the match. I couldn't make the most of them. He was playing great tennis. When I won the second set, there was a little bit of relief, and then in the third set I knew what I had to do at the beginning: Just push him to the limit and try to be aggressive. Not let him dominate the game more and just be myself."

Alcaraz, 22, has a 4-0 record in Grand Slam finals.