Carlos Alcaraz Eliminates Lorenzo Musetti To Make First Italian Open Final Appearance

 

Carlos Alcaraz is in his second Masters 1000 final in Rome after defeating Lorenzo Musetti

Lorenzo Musetti failed to progress past Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinal and was eliminated as the Spaniard continued to the Italian Open final, for his first in Rome. 

Alcaraz brushed the Italian opponent in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(4). However, Musetti was resilient in the decider, breaking to take a 2-4 lead before double-faulting to give Alcaraz the chance for a rally. He saved a break at 6-5 40/30 to force a tiebreak. Eventually, he lost after two hours of play. 

Lorenzo could not get revenge on the Spaniard, who defeated him in the final of the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 in three sets in April. Progressing to the final makes it the third Masters 1000 final that Alcaraz would reach this season. After winning the ATP Rotterdam Open, he won in Monte-Carlo for his second title this season. 

"I'm just really happy to get through. I didn't do anything spectacular but I did everything well," said Alcaraz. "I tried to stay solid, not making a lot of mistakes, tried to be always focused."

The third seed did not participate in the Madrid Open after losing the Barcelona Open final over his struggles with an injury. However, he has improved to 9-1 match wins since then and is set to meet either Jannik Sinner or Tommy Paul in the final.