**Carlos Alcaraz Advances to French Open Final After Musetti's Retirement**

PARIS -- Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion, secured his place in the French Open final on Friday when Lorenzo Musetti withdrew early in the fourth set due to injury. With the match poised at 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-0, 2-0 in favor of Alcaraz, the eighth-seeded Italian, clearly struggling with a thigh problem, was forced to retire on Court Philippe Chatrier.

"It’s not great to win a match like this. Lorenzo is a great player," Alcaraz expressed generously following the unexpected conclusion. "I wish him all the best and hope to see him back on the court soon."

Musetti, who had been receiving treatment for his left thigh, first called for medical assistance after trailing significantly in the third set and again before the commencement of the fourth. Struggling visibly and impaired in his movement, he decided to stop when trailing by two games in the fourth set, heading towards the net for a consolatory hug from Alcaraz.

Alcaraz's journey through the match wasn't smooth initially, with 16 unforced errors leading to a first set loss. However, the Spaniard found his stride, clinching the second set in a tiebreak and then dominating the third effortlessly, winning 24 of the 29 points.

"The first two sets were really tough," Alcaraz admitted. "When I won the second set, I felt relieved. In the third set, I understood what I needed to do, focusing on playing aggressively and staying calm."

The victory propels the 22-year-old, who is seeded second, to the final, aiming for his second French Open title and his fifth major overall. He will face either top-ranked Jannik Sinner of Italy or 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic of Serbia, who were set to play their semifinal match later on Friday.

The match saw a host of distinguished spectators, including actor Dustin Hoffman and former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, adding an extra layer of excitement. Musetti’s supporters, donning wigs in the colors of the Italian flag, enthusiastically cheered him on.

Despite experiencing moments of frustration, as evidenced by kicking his seat during the second set, Alcaraz regained composure to break Musetti's serve at a crucial juncture, ultimately clinching the second set in a dominant tiebreak.

Alcaraz is in high spirits ahead of the final. "I feel really good. It’s been three intense weeks but my confidence is high, and I’m ready to give everything I’ve got on Sunday."

Improving his record to 21-1 on clay this year, Alcaraz denies Musetti the chance to become the second Italian man to reach the French Open final since Adriano Panatta, who won the title in 1976.