Carlos Alcaraz makes emotional confession after his epic win against Jannik Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz admitted he had to find a way to enjoy the pain as he overcame his great rival Jannik Sinner in a thrilling French Open semi-final.

The 21-year-old Spaniard won 2-6 6-3 3-6 6-4 6-3 to become the youngest player to make grand slam finals on all three surfaces; hard-court, grass and the clay of Paris.

Italian Sinner, 22, struggled with cramp during the third set, but still went the distance in a contest lasting four hours and nine minutes.

There may be no Rafael Nadal this year – and this will be the first final not to feature one of the 14-time winner, Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer since 2004 – but Roland Garros could be about to crown a new Spanish champion on Sunday.

With Nadal having departed, probably for the final time, and Djokovic’s knee giving up on him after the fourth round, Sinner and Alcaraz is the new rivalry this tournament has been crying out for.

Carlos Alcaraz wins ugly in French Open semi-final showdown

Carlos Alcaraz explains how he beat Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros

It is one that is set to endure, as their latest showdown was the youngest men’s singles grand slam semi-final since the 2008 US Open when Andy Murray, then 21, beat a 22-year-old Nadal.

Yet there was little of the intensity of their five hour, five-set marathon at the US Open in 2022, which was won by Alcaraz at 2.50am, as they shared the opening two sets.

The drama came at 2-2 in the third when Sinner, who will be world number one from Monday, began flexing his hands and limping a little, a tell-tale sign that he was cramping up.

Alcaraz had suffered with a similar affliction at the same stage last year, on his way to defeat by Djokovic.

“I saw him struggling a little bit,” added Alcaraz. “I was cramping, Jannik as well in the third set. You have to fight. Against Djokovic, I was in the same position, but I learnt you have to stay there fighting because the cramp will go away.”

Despite two double-faults, Sinner managed a service hold after a lengthy game before receiving treatment at the changeover.

He then somehow conjured up a cross-court service return winner to break Alcaraz and take the third set.

However, two bad Sinner misses while serving at 4-5 in the fourth gave Alcaraz a set point which he took with a blistering cross-court winner.

Alcaraz broke again for 2-0 in the decider and held his nerve up the home straight, taking a third match point before raising both arms in triumph.

“You have to find the joy in suffering. That’s the key,” said Alcaraz. “Even more here on clay. Long rallies, four hour matches, five sets. You have to suffer. You have to enjoy it.

“Probably one of the toughest [matches] in my short career. The US Open in 2022 and this one. I hope to play many, many more matches like this one against Jannik but it’s one of the toughest I’ve played for sure.

“I saw him struggling a little bit. I was cramping last year. We had to fight. In the match against Djokovic I was in the same position. I know you have to keep calm and keep going because the cramp will go away. You have to try to make the points shorter.

“The third set was a bit weird. The fourth and fifth was great tennis. I’m really happy about everything I did today. I waited for my moment until I took it.”

This will not be the last time we see Alcaraz vs Sinner on the Roland Garros stage and if this was the first of many helpings of this sporting feast, we can’t wait for the next edition.