Top seed Jannik Sinner teed up the French Open final against Carlos Alcaraz that many expected after edging past Novak Djokovic in a tense last-four contest.
Italy’s Sinner won 6-4 7-5 7-6 (7-3) to end Djokovic’s hopes of winning a standalone record 25th Grand Slam title.
Djokovic, 38, looked emotional as he put his racquet bags down on Court Philippe Chatrier and waved farewell to an adoring crowd.
Defending champion Alcaraz moved into his second successive Roland Garros final after eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti retired injured in the fourth set of their semi-final earlier on Friday.
Sinner, playing only his second tournament back after a three-month ban for failing two doping tests, meets the Spanish second seed on Sunday.
The pair were the clear favourites before the clay-court Grand Slam tournament and will now write another chapter in their developing rivalry.
Alcaraz led 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-0 2-0 when Italy’s Musetti, aiming to reach his first major final, was forced to end the match early.
“It’s never fair. I want to win but not like this,” said Alcaraz.
Djokovic offers resistance but can’t find way past Sinner
Age is clearly catching up with Djokovic – but the nature of this defeat showed just how much he still offers at the top of the game.
The Serb was aiming to become the oldest Grand Slam men’s singles champion by lifting the trophy on Sunday for a fourth time.
Djokovic’s quality and fight enabled him to stay within touching distance of the 23-year-old Sinner, who has taken the reins as the world number one.
Yet it still never truly felt like he would be able to snap his three-match losing streak against the nerveless Italian.
Djokovic tried a variety of tactics – baseline duels, drop-shots, serve and volley – but Sinner was virtually impossible to break down.
The constant pressure forced Djokovic into loose groundstrokes and badly-executed drop-shots in an opening set which swung Sinner’s way when he broke serve in the fifth game.
Djokovic’s level improved in the early part of the second set, with two holds to love followed by scrutiny on Sinner’s serve, but he could not find a way through.
An animated Djokovic roared at the crowd after saving a break point in the fifth game and looked up to the heavens in frustration when another poor return handed over the break in his next service game.
You can never completely count Djokovic out, though. He managed to break back for 5-5 before losing serve again as Sinner sealed a two-set lead at the second opportunity.
Djokovic needed treatment for an issue with his upper left leg before the third set, but Sinner is rarely fazed by any disruptions and soaked up most of what Djokovic threw at him.
That included saving three set points in a tense game at 5-4, where further drama was added by a disbelieving Djokovic arguing over a line call going against him at deuce.
Sinner quickly took control of the tie-break, helped by Djokovic smashing into the net for 3-0, to set up the tantalising meeting with Alcaraz – their first contest in a Grand Slam final.
Alcaraz’s biggest test ends early
Alcaraz has not been at his clinical best during his title defence and Musetti promised to be his sternest test yet.
The pair have been the leading clay-court players on the ATP Tour this year, winning more matches than anyone else and going deep at the most important tournaments.
Two high-quality, competitive sets showed why.
But once Alcaraz levelled, he unleashed his attacking shots to devastating effect and also benefited from Musetti’s physical struggles.
Musetti needed treatment for a thigh problem at the end of the third set and it quickly became apparent he would struggle to continue.
Musetti reached the semi-finals of all three clay-court Masters before doing the same at Roland Garros.
But questions had still been raised about his mentality and whether he truly believed he could beat the very best on the biggest stage.
He had already lost twice to Alcaraz on clay this season – in Monte Carlo and Rome over three sets – but showed no signs of lacking faith as he took the opening set.
Sometimes accused of being too casual, Alcaraz fully locked in at the start of the second-set tie-break and took the third of his five set points to level the match.
Delicately poised, it was quickly ruined as a contest.
Musetti felt a problem in his left leg when serving and won just five points in a 22-minute third set.
After two visits from the physiotherapist, he still could not move freely and decided to shake hands with Alcaraz at the net.
With either Sinner or Alcaraz winning the trophy, it means the dominant pair have swept up the past six major titles between them.
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