Lorenzo Musetti Retires in French Open 2025 Semi-Final, Carlos Alcaraz Responds with Classy Gesture
Lorenzo Musetti, the eighth seed, was forced to retire from his French Open 2025 semi-final against defending champion Carlos Alcaraz on June 6 due to a left leg injury, trailing 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-0, 2-0 after two hours of play. The Italian, who had been in scintillating form, winning the first set and pushing Alcaraz to a tiebreak in the second, saw his movement severely hampered in the third set, where he received treatment, per BBC Sport. After Alcaraz broke his serve early in the fourth set, Musetti, visibly struggling, shook his head, removed his headband, and retired, sending Alcaraz to his second Roland Garros final, per The Independent.
Alcaraz displayed sportsmanship, offering a heartfelt embrace at the net and later expressing empathy in his on-court interview, saying, “It’s not the way I wanted to win. Lorenzo had an incredible week, and I feel sorry for him. I hope he recovers soon,” per Tennis.com. This echoed his sentiments after a similar scenario in the 2025 Monte Carlo final, where Musetti also faded physically, losing 3-6, 6-1, 6-0. Alcaraz’s gesture was praised on X, with @rolandgarros posting, “Classy Alcaraz 👏 #RolandGarros,” alongside a video of the embrace.
Musetti, who reached his first Roland Garros semi-final after defeating Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, had been a standout on clay, with a 19-3 record in 2025, per Sky Sports. His injury, which surfaced in the third set, limited his ability to counter Alcaraz’s aggressive forehands and 109 mph cross-court winners, per BBC Sport. Despite the loss, Musetti’s run, including a controversial moment where he escaped disqualification for kicking a ball at a line judge, will see him rise to No. 7 in the ATP rankings. Alcaraz, now 13-0 at Roland Garros since 2024, awaits Jannik Sinner in the final, aiming for his second title and €2,550,000.
