Carlos Alcaraz overcomes 'difficult day' to earn hard-fought straight set victory over Lorenzo Musetti and reach Italian Open final
Updated 16/05/2025 at 22:03 GMT+1
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Carlos Alcaraz beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-3 7-6(4) to claim a place in the Italian Open final in Rome, where he will face Jannik Sinner who beat Tommy Paul in the last four. Alcaraz's victory was his second over Musetti in as many months, having also beaten the 23-year-old in last month's Monte Carlo Masters final. The other semi-final, between Sinner and Paul, takes place later on Friday.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Carlos Alcaraz overcame a "really difficult day" to earn a hard-fought straight-sets victory over home favourite Lorenzo Musetti to claim a place in the Italian Open final in Rome.
Despite only showing flashes of his usual brilliance, the Spaniard beat Musetti 6-3 7-6(4) to register a second win over the Italian in as many months, having also beaten him in April’s Monte Carlo Masters final.
Alcaraz will face either Jannik Sinner in the final after the Italian overcame Tommy Paul, with the top three pair going toe-to-toe in the other Italian Open men’s semi-final on Friday.
"Today was a really difficult day with the conditions; the wind was tough to play with," said Alcaraz, via ATP. "It wasn’t about playing brilliant, spectacular tennis.
"It was about playing smart tennis, playing solid, going to the point when you can, and waiting for the chance to play aggressively.
"I think I did that pretty well, I stayed strong mentally when things didn’t go to my side."
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The world No. 3 got off to a flying start against Musetti, breaking his opponent three times to win the opening set 6-3.
But buoyed by a raucous Italian crowd, Musetti hit back, breaking the error-strewn Alcaraz twice at the start of the second set to take a 4-2 lead.
Alcaraz came back, however, flipping the set by winning three successive games, before being taken to a tie-break by Musetti.
The 22-year-old ultimately came out on top in the tie-break to wrap up the victory in two hours and four minutes.
Alcaraz’s improving performances at the Italian Open had erased some doubts regarding the Spaniard’s condition.
He pulled out of April’s Madrid Open with a hamstring and groin injury, but appears to be back to full fitness ahead of the Roland-Garros, where he will defend the men’s singles title, live onTNT Sports and discovery+.
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