Alcaraz and Zverev to meet in 2024 French Open final

The men’s French Open final has been set, with Carlos Alcaraz defeating Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev overcoming Casper Ruud in the semi-finals on Friday.

Alcaraz and Sinner were playing in the ninth edition of their budding rivalry, and it did not disappoint. The match went to five sets, with Alcaraz twice coming back from a set down to make his first Roland-Garros final, 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Zverev vs Ruud, on the other hand, was more anti-climactic. Ruud struggled with a stomach issue, limiting his ability to compete. After claiming the opening set, the Norwegian faded away across the remaining three, falling 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.

Heading into the final, two-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz is a heavy favourite against No 4 seed Zverev. Bookmakers put him at -303.03 to win his third major, while Zverev is well behind at +240 to claim his maiden French Open with Neds.

Composure key for Alcaraz in Sinner win

While Alcaraz had a slight edge at the bookies ahead of this clash with Sinner, there were big question marks over the Spaniard’s composure under pressure.

This time last year, he faced Novak Djokovic in an equally high stakes match up. The 20-year-old came out swinging, but flamed out quickly, overexerting himself and suffering from cramps.

Across his rivalry with Sinner, he’d also been less clinical on pressure points than the Italian.

This time though, Alcaraz made the most of his break points, and fought off cramps by staying calm.

“The cramps in this match, it wasn’t as much here as last year,” Alcaraz explained. “But yeah, I’m gonna say I’m stronger mentally. I knew how to deal with these situations. I knew that the cramps is going to go away if I stay there. I know that everything what I have to do.

“The cramping, I knew that I have to stay there. I knew that probably I have to make shorter the points. So, I knew much better how to do it this year than last year.”

The loss comes at a strange time for Sinner, who will become world No.1 on Monday following Djokovic’s withdrawal from the tournament.

Zverev’s win tainted by court case

For Zverev, his victory over Ruud was quickly overshadowed.

The 27-year-old had been embroiled with a legal battle against former partner Brenda Patea.

Friday morning brought the news that the case had been settled without an admission of guilt from Zverev.

Journalists more eager to hear from Zverev why he didn’t pursue a not-guilty verdict, than asking him about the match.

“If a trial is abandoned, it means we are innocent,” an irritated Zverev explained after his French Open semi-final. “If you’re guilty, they wouldn’t let you do that.

“I don’t know what translation you got. That’s it, it’s done, we move on. I don’t want to hear another question on this topic, ever. And that goes for everyone.”

The French Open final will be Zverev’s second Grand Slam final. In 2020, he led Dominic Thiem by two sets to love in the US Open final, before falling in five sets.

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