ISLAMABAD (PEN) : Carlos Alcaraz booked his spot in the final of the Italian Open for the first time in his career, overcoming Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in a thrilling semi-final encounter. The Spaniard sealed a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory after a tense battle that lasted over two hours, leaving fans at the Foro Italico on the edge of their seats.
A Hard-Fought Battle
Musetti, the local hero, came into the match eager to avenge his previous loss to Alcaraz in Monte Carlo. Despite a strong start that saw him take a 4-2 lead in the second set, Musetti was unable to maintain his momentum. Alcaraz broke back and eventually forced a tiebreak, where he clinched the victory to secure his place in the final.
The first set saw Alcaraz dominate, breaking Musetti twice to take a 6-3 lead. However, Musetti didn’t go down without a fight. Frustrated by a series of mistakes, he smashed his racquet in a moment of visible distress, but continued to receive unwavering support from the passionate Italian crowd.
In the second set, Musetti found his rhythm and went ahead 4-2, but Alcaraz’s resilience shone through as he leveled the match and fought off Musetti’s challenge, winning the tiebreaker 7-4.
Alcaraz Reflects on the Match
Speaking after his win, Alcaraz acknowledged the challenging atmosphere created by the crowd, which heavily favored Musetti. “Today the crowd was for Lorenzo, so it wasn’t easy. It was great, honestly. The atmosphere was great,” said the 20-year-old Spaniard.
He also praised the respect shown by the Italian supporters despite their clear allegiance to Musetti. “I have to say thank you for them being respectful as well,” he added. “Obviously, there were some moments when they cheered for him between serves, but in general, they were respectful.”
Alcaraz, who faced difficult playing conditions due to strong winds, noted the importance of adjusting his game strategy. “It wasn’t about playing brilliant, spectacular tennis,” he explained. “It was about playing smart, playing solid, and waiting for the chance to play aggressively. I think I did that pretty well.”
Final Awaited
Alcaraz now awaits the winner of the second semi-final between world number one Jannik Sinner and American Tommy Paul. With this victory, Alcaraz has shown once again why he is considered one of the top talents in world tennis, as he eyes his first Italian Open title.
As the tournament continues to build excitement, fans can look forward to a thrilling finale, with Alcaraz standing one win away from his maiden Rome title.
