Carlos Alcaraz powered past Lorenzo Musetti to secure his place in the final of the Italian Open, winning 6-3, 7-6 in a straight-sets battle that tested both nerves and technique in blustery conditions at the Foro Italico.
The victory sets up a much-anticipated final against world number one Jannik Sinner, a match-up that has long been awaited by tennis fans and now becomes a reality on Rome’s centre court. Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion, reached his fourth final of the season with this win, and the timing could not be better with the French Open just around the corner.
The Spanish star had to overcome both a spirited opponent and swirling winds in a contest that lasted just over two hours. Musetti, cheered on by a partisan Italian crowd, failed to make the most of his opportunities, especially in a tense second set that saw several shifts in momentum.
Alcaraz took the first set with relative comfort, breaking Musetti’s serve three times as the Italian struggled with his rhythm and racked up 29 unforced errors. Frustration crept in early for Musetti, who received a warning from the chair umpire after smashing his racket in anger.
The second set was more balanced. Musetti managed to break Alcaraz early and led 4-3 after pulling off an audacious backhand volley that even drew applause from his opponent. But the Spaniard responded immediately, breaking back to level the set at 4-4. Tempers flared once more when Musetti was penalised a point for launching a ball into the stands following the break.
Alcaraz remained composed, holding serve to love in the next game and eventually clinching the win in a tie-break, extinguishing hopes of an all-Italian final. His calm under pressure and ability to absorb the crowd’s energy was on full display.
Speaking after the match, Alcaraz praised both semi-final contenders. “Both players are playing great. Everybody saw the match against Casper,” he said, referring to Sinner’s demolition of Madrid Open champion Casper Ruud. “If I play against Tommy Paul, I have to be ready for that. If I play against Jannik, I have to be ready for that battle, and obviously deal with the crowd.”
With Sinner later defeating Paul, the stage is now set for a blockbuster clash between two of the sport’s brightest young stars. Their contrasting styles and shared history of pushing each other to new heights make Sunday’s final one of the most eagerly awaited matches on the ATP calendar this year.
