Carlos Alcaraz showcased his remarkable resilience once again on Friday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, securing his place in the final of the tournament. The 22-year-old Spaniard achieved a solid semi-final victory against local favorite Lorenzo Musetti, winning 6-3, 7-6(4) despite challenging conditions. Alcaraz maintained his focus even when Musetti fought back, as well as dealing with windy weather and an enthusiastic Italian crowd, marking his 25th tour-level final appearance.
Alcaraz’s Tactical Brilliance in Adverse Conditions
“It was a tough day with the wind making it hard to play,” Alcaraz said. “It wasn’t about playing perfectly. It was about being smart, staying solid, and waiting for the right moments to attack. I think I did that well, and I stayed mentally strong even when things got tricky.” With this win, Alcaraz joins the ranks of the 13th different Spanish player to reach the men’s singles final in Rome since the Open Era began.
After withdrawing from the Madrid Masters due to an adductor injury, Alcaraz seems to be back in top form. With this victory, he notched his 19th win of the season and heads into Sunday’s final having won 14 of his last 15 matches, including a title at Monte-Carlo and a final spot in Barcelona last month. Alcaraz’s two-hour and four-minute match against Musetti tied him with Stefan Edberg for the second-most wins in the first 100 matches at the ATP Masters 1000 level, boasting an impressive 77-23 record, which includes six titles. Remarkably, at just 22 years old, he has already reached finals in six of the nine ATP Masters 1000 events.
Musetti, who reached the semi-finals as the ninth player ever to compete in all three clay-court Masters 1000 events in a single season, couldn’t quite harness the energy of the crowd for a comeback. However, he can take pride in his week in Rome, having defeated former champions Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, which propelled him to a new career-high ranking of No. 8.
After also besting Musetti in the Monte-Carlo final, Alcaraz now leads their head-to-head series 5-1 and is set to face either World No. 1 Jannik Sinner or American Tommy Paul in the championship match. Throughout his semi-final match, Alcaraz’s performance varied, but he remained composed. After trailing at one point, he bounced back to take a 6-5 lead, despite facing a match point against him. He held steady in a tense tie-break to clinch his spot in the final.
Even with the ups and downs of the match, Alcaraz effectively used the windy conditions to his advantage, hitting 14 forehand winners compared to Musetti’s three, demonstrating his powerful play from the baseline. As he prepares for the final, Alcaraz’s unwavering determination and skill continue to impress tennis fans around the world.