Like the women's final at Roland Garros this year, in which the number one player in the world will play against the number two player in the world, the semi-final pairings in the men's frame of the biggest clay-court tournament are also regular. In the first, starting at 14.30:XNUMX p.m., the second-ranked Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz will play against the world's seventh-ranked player, Italian Lorenzo Musetti, while after him, Italian Janik Siner will test the veteran from Serbia, the sixth favorite, Novak Djokovic, on the "Filip Šatrije".
Despite the elimination of numerous favorites, big surprises, the best four still made it to the finals. Siner, the world's number one player, was fierce, the only one of the semifinalists who didn't lose a set, even though he had no serious opponents in the upper bracket.
However, at the Masters in Rome, Siner showed that he was in top form after a three-month suspension, and his rival from the third round, Czech Jiri Lehečka, gave a schedule of Siner's matches, whose game he described as being close to perfection.
- He gave Kasper Ruud, a great clay court player, one game in Rome, he allowed me three here, and Aleksandr Bublik six games in the quarterfinals - explained the Czech.
According to bookmakers, Siner is the biggest favorite against Djokovic - ever. Even for a euro bet on the most successful tennis player, you get four in case of victory. The Italian is cautious, however:
- Novak has shown that he is back to his top level. He is playing really, really well at the moment. It will be a tactically demanding and very difficult match. He is incredibly experienced, 24 Grand Slams speak for themselves. We will see how the game goes. I am just happy to be in the semi-finals and I want to see what I can do. I played a good semi-final last year, so I am proud to have reached this stage again. Honestly, I did not expect to be in this situation when I return from suspension, so I just accept things as they are and hope that I am ready to reach the final. I am just thinking about my game, and then we will see what happens - said Siner.
The head-to-head matches are tied - the rivals have four wins each. Siner did win the last three matches, but on fast surfaces. The only match between them on clay, in Monte Carlo in 2021, went to the Serbian tennis player.
- Grand Slams are simply mine. I give my all in them. Janik, what can I say!? He is in a form that borders on madness at the moment. He is objectively the best tennis player in the last two years. The semi-finals with him at Roland Garros are a real challenge for me. I will try to give my best, and I know that Janik will play at the highest possible level, just like in every match in the last year and a half. Such matches always bring out the best in me - emphasized the 38-year-old Belgrader.
The first favorite in Paris, however, is the second seed. Alcaraz is defending his title at the “Chatrieux”, he came to Paris with the Rome Masters trophy, and in the semifinals of the tournament in the Eternal City he defeated Musetti.
Muzetti has made the biggest breakthrough in his game this spring, the only one to reach the semifinals of all clay-court masters this season, and last year he won an Olympic bronze medal at the "Chatrieux".
- Alcaraz is the favorite. I consider him the best clay court player at the moment, even better than Siner. Still, I will try to give my maximum, and in sports everything is possible - said the 23-year-old Muzetti.
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