There is a new rivalry in menโs tennis: between Jannik Sinner (
, 22) and Carlos Alcaraz (
, 21).
The rivals met today in the menโs semi-final of the 2024 French Open.
It was a see-saw match that had Alcaraz emerge the victor after trailing two sets to one: Alcaraz 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Alcaraz leads Sinner by 5 wins to 4 in their head-to-head matches so far.
On Sunday, Alcaraz will play against Alexander (Sacha) Zverev ( 
, 27) in the final.
It will be the first French Open menโs final without Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic since 2009.
Itโs the first without Nadal, Djokovic or Roger Federer since 2004.
Update Sun 6/9: Alcaraz outlasted Zverev to won his first French title: Alcaraz 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.
Itโs the fifth and final set, almost 4 hours into the match.
Sinner is rapidly running out of time to catch up after losing his serve early in the set. (Alcaraz is about to go up 4-1.)
Here, Alcaraz had just served hard into the far corner, drawing Sinner out sideways for the return.
The return was short.
Alcaraz lifted up his racquet as if to hit, but then cut under the ball for a surprise dropshot that kissed the top of the net, wrong-footing Sinner, and out of reach.
[Still frame from Tennis Channel streaming video feed].