ROME — Carlos Alcaraz battled through a grueling semifinal against Lorenzo Musetti to reach the Italian Open final, but the young Spaniard admitted he faced significant challenges in his 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-2 victory. The world No. 3 will now face either Jannik Sinner or Tommy Paul in Sunday's championship match.
Alcaraz, who struggled with cramps during his quarterfinal win over Jan-Lennard Struff, revealed post-match that fatigue and mental exhaustion nearly derailed his campaign. "It was a tough match, not just physically but mentally," he said. "After losing the second set, I had to reset completely. Lorenzo made me work for every point."
A Test of Resilience
The 21-year-old looked dominant early, breaking Musetti twice in the first set with his trademark explosive forehands. However, the Italian crowd favorite fought back in a tense second-set tiebreak, saving a match point at 6-5 before converting his third set point.
Key moments that nearly turned the match:
- Musetti's stunning backhand pass at 5-5 in the tiebreak
- Alcaraz's uncharacteristic double fault at 6-6
- A 12-minute bathroom break by Alcaraz before the decider
Third-Set Dominance
The reigning Wimbledon champion emerged transformed after the break, racing to a 4-0 lead. His physical superiority became apparent as Musetti's movement declined. Alcaraz sealed victory with his 12th ace, finishing with:
- 42 winners to Musetti's 28
- 73% first serve points won
Post-Match Reflections
Musetti praised his opponent's resilience: "Carlos showed why he's a champion. When he needed to raise his level, he did. I left everything on court but his intensity in the third set was unbelievable."
Alcaraz acknowledged the crowd's impact: "Playing against an Italian in Rome is always special. The energy pushed us both. I'm grateful for these experiences that make me grow."
Looking Ahead to the Final
The final presents contrasting scenarios:
- Against Sinner: A blockbuster rematch of their epic Indian Wells semifinal
- Against Paul: First career meeting with the American
Alcaraz leads the head-to-head against Sinner 4-3, including their recent 3-hour 2024 Miami Open thriller. The Spaniard admitted: "Jannik brings out my best tennis. We always create something special for the fans."
Physical Concerns
The tournament's medical staff reported Alcaraz received treatment for:
- Right forearm tightness
- Left quadriceps discomfort
When asked about his condition, Alcaraz remained optimistic: "I've played many matches in a row. Some pains are normal. My team will do everything to have me ready for Sunday."
Historical Context
With this victory, Alcaraz achieves:
- First Italian Open final appearance
- 12th career ATP final (11-0 record)
- Youngest finalist in Rome since 2006
The last Spaniard to win in Rome was Rafael Nadal in 2021. Alcaraz smiled when reminded: "Rafa's records motivate me. To follow his footsteps here would be amazing, but I focus on playing my game."
Conclusion
Despite his admission of struggles, Alcaraz demonstrated the champion mentality that has made him tennis' brightest young star. His ability to overcome physical and mental hurdles sets up what promises to be a captivating final against either Sinner or Paul.
The Italian Open final will be played Sunday at 4pm local time. A victory would move Alcaraz to within 1,000 points of Novak Djokovic in the ATP rankings ahead of Roland Garros.