Jannlitos is back! Carlos Alcaraz to face Jannik Sinner in Roland Garros semis after Tsitsipas dismissal

The two-time major winner broke in the opening game with a down-the-line forehand winner and wrapped up the first set with a second break when the Greek’s dropshot attempt found the net.

Of Alcaraz's six wins against Tsitsipas, four have come on clay.

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Four consecutive unforced errors from Tsitsipas, including two successive overhead misses, enabled Alcaraz to open a 2-0 set two lead. The No. 3 seed continued to play the percentages on his serve, using the kick to great effect in not facing a break point until falling behind 15-40 up 4-2.

Tsitsipas capitalized to get back on serve, with his forehand emerging as a significant factor in the set making its way to a tie-break. From 1-1, Alcaraz reeled off the next four points, and as the players changed ends, Tsitsipas complained to chair umpire Aurelie Tourte that Alcaraz’s grunt was hindering his shot-making.

The 2021 runner-up continued venting to Tourte about his opponent during the set break, to no avail. After six holds to start, Tsitsipas double-faulted on the first break point of the third set. Three games later, Alcaraz successfully served out the match from 0-30.

Alcaraz equaled his 2023 showing, having fallen to Novak Djokovic in the last four.

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Earlier, Sinner dashed Grigor Dimitrov’s bid with a 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (3) victory. With Novak Djokovic's withdrawal ahead of his quarterfinal due to a knee injury, the Italian will become the first man from his nation to reach No. 1 on the ATP rankings come Monday.

Alcaraz matched Sinner in notching 50 career Grand Slam wins, the first men born in the 2000s to reach that figure. The 21-year-old has now advanced to the semifinals or better at five of the past six majors he’s entered.

Both came to the French capital with questionable statuses: Alcaraz played just one European clay-court tournament after struggling with a right arm injury. Sinner was derailed by a right hip issue that forced him to cut short his Madrid campaign and withdraw from his home event in Rome.

Alcaraz’s budding rivalry with Sinner has seen each competitor win four matches going into their third different Grand Slam meeting. Sinner took their 2022 Wimbledon fourth-round contest before Alcaraz saved match point to claim their 2022 US Open quarterfinal.

Their lone previous clay-court clash also occurred two seasons ago, when Sinner prevailed in the Umag final.

"I think it is the hardest thing to face Jannik," Alcaraz stated to press. "At the same time, I love that. I love these kind of matches. I love this kind of challenge, to have a really difficult battle against him."

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