I had to push him beyond his limits," Alcaraz reflects on his Roland-Garros final qualification

Qualified for his second career final in Paris, Alcaraz had a scare in the first two sets before gaining the upper hand over his opponent, who eventually retired due to physical issues. On the court after the match, he spoke about his qualification in an interview with Lucas Pouille:

"It’s never great to win like this. He’s a fantastic player, he’s had an incredible clay-court season this year. There are very few players like him who’ve reached the semifinals on clay every time. He’s the fifth player to achieve that. I truly wish him the best. I’m sure we’ll get to enjoy his tennis again soon.

The first two sets were really tough, I had break opportunities. He played amazing tennis. I felt a huge relief when I won the second set—I had to push him beyond his limits, let him dominate the rallies. After that, I was calmer, I could see the game more clearly and play better tennis."

The four-time Grand Slam winner also shared his thoughts on the other semifinal between Sinner and Djokovic:

"I won’t miss it—it’s one of the best matches you can see today. I’m just a tennis fan, so I’ll study the game technically and tactically. Right now, I feel really good, it’s been three very intense weeks. There’s just one last step to climb, I’m confident, I’m playing well.