Carlos Alcaraz aimed to reach his second Masters 1000 final of the year in Rome.
The Spanish sensation previously triumphed on clay in 2025, defeating Lorenzo Musetti to claim the Monte-Carlo Masters in April.
Just a month later, Musetti was again the challenger standing between Alcaraz and his spot in the Italian Open final.
In a match characterized by inconsistency, Alcaraz started strong, taking the first set. However, a lapse in concentration allowed Musetti to make a comeback as both players battled through the second set filled with unforced errors.
Ultimately, Alcaraz secured the victory in a second-set tiebreak, winning 6-3, 7-6 [7-4] and advancing to his first final in Rome.
Laura Robson advises Alcaraz on maintaining focus for the final
Following the match, former British player Laura Robson commented on Alcaraz’s concentration challenges. She noted, “He can sharpen his focus and came through when it mattered in the second, not wanting to go to a third set.” However, she cautioned that losing focus against top opponents, such as [Jannik] Sinner in the final, could be detrimental.
Alcaraz’s Performance Stats Against Musetti
In a closer look at Alcaraz’s performance, he recorded 20 winners but also tallied 39 unforced errors, including 25 on his forehand. Ahead of a potential final against Sinner, he will need to tighten up these aspects.
Head-to-Head Against Sinner and Paul
Since his last loss in October against Sinner, who is now a formidable opponent, Alcaraz has maintained an edge in their matchups, leading the head-to-head series 6-4. He will need to bring his best game as he prepares for the final, with Sinner and Tommy Paul yet to compete in the other semi-final.
