The first of many finals between Sinner and Alcaraz will be played at Roland Garros.

World number one Jannik Sinner of Italy and number two Carlos Alcaraz of Spain will star in the first Roland Garros final between two players born in this century, who are poised to dominate in the coming years.

The Italian, 23-year-old, imposed his momentum on Serbian Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6, unable to match his rival's level and eliminated from the hunt for his 25th Grand Slam.

Alcaraz had more trouble defeating Italian Lorenzo Musetti 4-6, 7-6, 6-0, 2-0. Musetti, after winning the first set and fighting the second, experienced physical problems that prevented him from finishing the match.

It will be a final between two players who have never lost a Grand Slam title. Sinner's first in Paris, his fourth in a Grand Slam, and his third in a row, seeking his fourth title, while the Spaniard will be looking to retain his title and add his fifth major title in as many finals.

This will be the twelfth duel between the two players, with the Spaniard having won seven of them, and four in a row, the last coming in the final of the Rome Masters 1000 a few weeks ago.

Sinner, the first Italian finalist in Paris since Adriano Panatta in 1976, displayed a blistering display of tennis, not losing a set, dropping only 53 games, and spending just under 13 hours on court.

He has 20 Grand Slam victories in a row and has only lost one match this season.

He overwhelmed a Djokovic who thought he had recovered the level of his glory years, but who crashed against a player several levels above him, the first to defeat him at Roland Garros since Rafa Nadal did so in the 2022 quarterfinals.

The hundredth tournament he won in Geneva just before traveling to Paris, and the hundredth victory he achieved at Roland Garros, the exhibition quarterfinal against German Alexander Zverev, were nothing more than a mirage that made him believe he could continue battling with the younger generation. Sinner brought him back down to earth.

It now seems difficult for the Serbian to add his 25th Grand Slam to his list of achievements, the dream that, he says, keeps him motivated on the court at 38 years old.

Sinner's level is such that it seems only the Spaniard Alcaraz can threaten him.

The world number two entered his semifinal after showing great form against American Tommy Paul. But it wasn't easy against Italian Musetti, the only player who has matched him in terms of clay-court wins this year.

Alcaraz, who had defeated the Italian in the previous two matches this year, did not start overwhelmingly, failing to capitalize on his opportunities, while the Italian stood up to him and snatched the first set, the fourth that eluded the Spaniard in the tournament.

Forced once again to fight against the tide, the champion held on to the duel in a tight second set, which went to a tiebreaker. That's when things changed. Musetti began to feel unwell, and the games were falling to the Spaniard, who took the third set to love, before the Italian threw in the towel.

PHRASES

"I know it will be difficult against Carlos. My stats aren't good against him. We'll see what I can do."

Jannik Sinner, Italian tennis player

"I'm playing to reach Grand Slam finals, but I try not to take it for granted. Just because I've reached five at 22 doesn't mean I'll be the same or better in the next ones."

Carlos Alcaraz, Spanish tennis player

• Tennis
• Roland Garros Tournament
• Jannik Sinner
• Carlos Alcaraz