Carlos Alcaraz will face Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s French Open final, knowing that his performance levels simply must improve if he is to win this one.
The clash pits the top-two ranked players in the men’s tour against one another, in the biggest match that their short but sparkling rivalry has conjured up.
It promises fireworks, but there’s a very real worry regarding the unpredictability of the Spaniard.
Throughout Roland Garros, his level has been wild, ranging from unplayable to shockingly poor given the high standards he sets himself.
Against Jannik Sinner, he will not be so fortunate to get through the match unscathed.
Carlos Alcaraz sends kind words to Lorenzo Musetti
However, what cannot be denied is just how well Carlos Alcaraz performed in yesterday’s win over Musetti, but only once the second-set tiebreak began.
Before that, he looked uncharacteristically lethargic and cumbersome, missing simple shots and failing to hit the mark with the usual stunners that he has become so synonymous with.
Andre Agassi was left shocked by Alcaraz’s level, and inability to change what was clearly hindering him.
Credit to his opponent, who did perform admirably, particularly in the first set which he surprisingly snatched.
Alcaraz is likely well aware of the threat he posed, exhibited by the kind words he spoke about Musetti following their French Open semi-final.
And, he has since taken to Instagram to offer further words of encouragement after the Italian was frustratingly forced to retire mid-way through the fourth set.
Carlos Alcaraz will have to up his game for the French Open final
Against Musetti, Alcaraz hit 32 unforced errors and only managed to get 58% of his first serves in.
What makes things worse is that the bulk of the former stat came during the opening two sets; a torrid period for the Spaniard.
If he makes such a slow start against Sinner, the match might be beyond him before it has even begun.
He and his coaching team will know better than anyone the changes that need to be made, and the hope is that he can implement them, and regain focus, to enact them from the start on Sunday.
Otherwise, he may be handed his first-ever defeat in a Grand Slam final, allowing his generational rival to maintain his 100% record.
If he is on form, which Alcaraz does manage to conjure up when playing Sinner, Sunday promises to be a thriller. The top two players in the world right now, and likely of their generation, fighting for the ultimate prize.
