Before dealing with some physical issues that required multiple visits from a trainer, an apparently cramping Sinner led by a set and a break at 2-0 in the second. Alcaraz then took five games in a row and evened things.

Alcaraz was also troubled in the third set, flexing his right hand as it began to cramp, and Sinner went up two sets to one.

But Alcaraz never wavered, often using drop shots – sometimes to win points outright, sometimes to set up curling lobs, sometimes to pave the way for slick passing shots.

Even though this was not necessarily the most aesthetically pleasing of their nine head-to-head meetings — Sinner now leads 5-4 — and they combined for 102 unforced errors, there were plenty of moments of brilliance.

Sinner’s consolation will be to move up to the No.1 in the world rankings for the first time next week.

Fourth seed Zverev had lost in the Roland Garros semi-finals each of the past three years, including against No.7 Ruud in 2023, but he was too strong for the Norwegian after a slow start.