Carlos Alcaraz wins ugly in French Open semi-final showdown

Sometimes in tennis, you have to master the concept of ‘winning ugly.’

That phrase is most associated with former ATP star Brad Gilbert – current coach of Coco Gauff – with his book of the same name a guide to claiming victory when you are far from your best.

Have either Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner read the book? Are they even aware that it exists? We would have to ask them to find that out, in all honesty.

But, approaching the final set of this French Open semi-final, it was clear that the eventual victory would have gone some way to understanding that mantra.

The tail-end of the fourth set, largely anchored by world No 3 Alcaraz to force a decider, delivered sublime tennis, the quality all anticipated in the build-up to this match, the ninth meeting between two men seemingly destined to define the coming years.

The only problem was that it had taken three and a half sets to get to that point.

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This was an intriguing semi-final, pulsating at points, but quality-wise it was far from a classic.

Their epic US Open quarter-final in 2022 this was not; the matches are similar in that both went to a fifth set, but will not be held in the same reverence in the years to come.

The match started with Sinner playing not spectacular, but good, tennis while Alcaraz was left firmly on the back foot, holding just once and finding himself 6-2, 2-0 down.

But without any obvious momentum switch, roles changed dramatically, and you expected the Spaniard to race away with the match after levelling at one set all and claiming an early break lead in the third set.

Tennis, however, doesn’t always deliver what you expect it to, and soon-to-be world No 1 Sinner eventually snatching the third set wasn’t that surprising, considering the fluctuations up to that stage.

Experience is not a luxury both have in bucketloads but Alcaraz has contested more big matches, and perhaps that counted for something in the end.

The Spaniard will battle for his third Grand Slam title on Sunday, prevailing 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in a patchy encounter on Court Philippe Chatrier.

The reality is that this was always unlikely to be near the quality of their Flushing Meadows meeting two years ago, no matter who won; the stakes have changed.

Then, both were the hottest prospects in the sport, but neither had come close to winning a Slam, and they were by far from heavy favourites to win the title.

Lesser expectation on both allowed a sense of freedom, perhaps a greater sense of enjoyment, in a contest where Alcaraz saved two match points to triumph and later win his first Slam.

Almost two seasons on, the scene has changed for both.

Alcaraz is a two-time Grand Slam winner and former No 1, while Sinner will be world No 1 on Monday – alongside being the reigning Australian Open champion.

More success brings more pressure and throughout this last four clash, you could sense the tension and nervousness around two men still in their early twenties, dealing with the fact many expect them to reach their first Roland Garros final.

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Did Alcaraz handle the occasion a little better than Sinner? Did Sinner fade physically and mentally, drained by the exertion of his season so far and the weight of the new world No 1 mantle looming over him?

When it comes down to it, this match ultimately leaves more questions than answers.

We can probably expect higher-quality Grand Slam semi-finals between the two in the future, and potentially even finals between the two, as both gain more experience in the world they have raced into quicker than perhaps expected.

Today was Alcaraz’s day but watching this rivalry, and watching them learn – pretty or not – is compelling.