yahoo sports staff · sean leahy · kari anderson
It will be Carlos Alcaraz vs. Alexander Zverev in the 2024 French Open men's singles final (Sunday, 9 a.m. ET; NBC).
Zverev finished off Casper Ruud in four sets, 6-2, 2-6, 4-6, 6-2 to move on to his first final at Roland-Garros. The 27-year-old German has reached at least the semifinal round every year since 2021.
This will be Zverev's second appearance in a Grand Slam final after falling to Dominic Thiem in the 2020 U.S. Open final.
Alcaraz advanced after a five-set thriller in the first semifinal over Jannik Sinner, 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Despite the loss, Sinner will ascent to the No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings after the French Open. Meanwhile, the 21-year-old Spanish star will get a crack at the third leg of the career Grand Slam on Sunday, after having won Wimbledon in 2023 and the US Open in 2022.
In an event that has been dominated by Rafael Nadal over the past two decades, this will be just the second time since Nadal's first French Open win in 2005 that a member of the "Big 3" (Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer) won't win the tournament. Stan Wawrinka won the French Open men's singles title back in 2015.
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Sean Leahy
Zverev books a spot in his first Roland Garros final! 🎟️ #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/hw9T3CXqfx
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) June 7, 2024
Sean Leahy
Zverev closes out Ruud with his 19th ace of the match and will now face Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's final.
Ruud 6 2 4 2
Zverev 2 6 6 6
Sean Leahy
Zverev pulling away now. He's on the verge of moving on to his first final at Roland-Garros.
Ruud 6 2 4 2
Zverev 2 6 6 5
Sean Leahy
Each time Ruud gets close, Zverev pulls a way a little more. He takes the sixth game with an ace and approaches finishing off Ruud.
Ruud 6 2 4 2
Zverev 2 6 6 4
Sean Leahy
Ruud keeps fighting as he takes the fifth game.
Ruud 6 2 4 2
Zverev 2 6 6 3
Sean Leahy
Zverev with a fantastic return to take the fourth game and move closer to taking this match.
Ruud 6 2 4 1
Zverev 2 6 6 3
Sean Leahy
Ruud roars back in the fourth set and takes the third game
Ruud 6 2 4 1
Zverev 2 6 6 2
Kari Anderson
Ruud is having a spirited disagreement with the umpire over where on the line the ball hit, and is seemingly arguing about the angle of the ball. His appeal does not convince the umpire and Zverev goes up and takes the game.
Ruud 6 2 4 0
Zverev 2 6 6 2
Kari Anderson
Zverev gets one just inside the line and Ruud hits it into the net, giving Zverev the first game win in what could be the final set...if Zverev keeps this up.
Ruud 6 2 4 0
Zverev 2 6 6 1
Sean Leahy
An adventurous 10th game sees Zverev start with a pair of aces, then double fault. But he rebounded to finish off the third set with two more aces and is now a set away from advancing to face Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's men's final.
Ruud 6 2 4
Zverev 2 6 6
Sean Leahy
Zverev puts one into the net and Ruud takes the ninth game. Zverev will serve looking to go up 2 sets to 1.
Ruud 6 2 4
Zverev 2 6 5
Sean Leahy
Zverev moves to within a game of taking the third set by blowing an ace by Ruud.
Ruud 6 2 3
Zverev 2 6 5
Sean Leahy
Ruud not going down without a fight in this set. He battles to take the seventh game.
Ruud 6 2 3
Zverev 2 6 4
Sean Leahy
Zverev moves closer to winning the third set by taking the sixth game.
Ruud 6 2 2
Zverev 2 6 4
Sean Leahy
Zverev wins his second straight game and takes the advantage in the third set.
Ruud 6 2 2
Zverev 2 6 3
Sean Leahy
We're back to a tied third set as Zverev wins the fourth game.
Ruud 6 2 2
Zverev 2 6 2
Sean Leahy
Slice and dice 💥 @CasperRuud98 | #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/AvuEWTufXE
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) June 7, 2024
Sean Leahy
Ruud goes up by taking the third game in the third set.
Ruud 6 2 2
Zverev 2 6 1
Sean Leahy
Zverev answers back with an ace to even up the third set.
Ruud 6 2 1
Zverev 2 6 1
Sean Leahy
Ruud bounces back and takes the first game of the third set.
Ruud 6 2 1
Zverev 2 6 0
