Top-ranked Jannik Sinner has beaten Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-5 7-6 (7-3) to set up a French Open final against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic, the men’s record 24-time Grand Slam champion, could not counter Sinner’s relentless accuracy and pounding forehands in Friday’s semi-final on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Sinner became only the second Italian man to reach the final at Roland-Garros after Adriano Panatta, the 1976 champion.
In the earlier semi-final, Alcaraz led 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0, 2-0 against Lorenzo Musetti when the eighth-seeded Italian retired with a leg injury.
Sinner extended his winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments to 20 matches, after winning the US Open and the Australian Open.
Djokovic was bidding for a record-extending 38th Grand Slam final, and an eighth in Paris, where he was won three times.
But he spent much of the match camped behind the baseline, sliding at full stretch and grunting loudly while Sinner sent him scurrying left and right like a windscreen wiper.
A cross-court two-handed backhand winner from Sinner in the ninth game of the third set was executed with such pure timing that it drew applause even from Djokovic.
Djokovic fought back in the third set but wilted in the tiebreaker, somehow missing an easy smash at the net to trail 3-0 and then lost on the second match point he faced when his forehand hit the net.
Sinner said: “These are rare and special moments. I’m very happy.”
Alcaraz is attempting to become only the third man to retain his Roland Garros title this century, after Rafa Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten.
“It’s never great to go through like this,” Alcaraz said, before hailing Musetti’s achievement of reaching at least the semi-finals of all four elite claycourt events this year.
“He’s a great player, he has had an incredible claycourt season … I wish him a speedy recovery and I’m sure we’ll be enjoying his tennis pretty soon.”
Musetti twice denied Alcaraz the chance to break in the opening nine games before the 23-year-old suddenly dialled up the intensity and snatched the opening set when his Spanish opponent produced errors in a poor service game.
A frustrated Alcaraz kicked his bench during the second set but finally found a way through Musetti’s dogged defence to draw level after a tiebreak and then produced a dazzling display of power and precision to dish out a bagel in the third set.
Musetti, who appeared to be hampered by a left thigh issue midway through the third set, threw in the towel after two games in the fourth.
“The first two sets were tough. I had chances to be up in the match but couldn’t make the most of them,” Alcaraz added.
“When I won the second set, I was relieved and I knew that I needed to be aggressive and be myself. I was calmer. I could see clearer and I could play great tennis at the start of the third.
“I’m feeling great physically. It’s been three intense weeks but I have one more step to take. I’m playing great tennis and I have great confidence. I’ve been doing great things in this tournament and now is the time to give 100 per cent in the final.”
© AAP
