Internationals: Musetti beaten, Alcaraz in final

Lorenzo Musetti's run at the Internazionali d'Italia, currently being played on the clay courts of the Foro Italico in Rome, came to a halt in the semifinals. The 23-year-old Tuscan, world number 9 and eighth seed, succumbed to 22-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, world number 3 and seeded, with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) in just over two hours. Alcaraz awaits in the final the winner of the second semi-final scheduled at 20.30 between the other Italian, 23-year-old Jannik Sinner, world and seed number 1, and 28-year-old US player Tommy Paul, number 12 in the Atp rankings and number 11 in the seeding.

An alternating performance by Musetti, who despite a few flashes in the final and some good plays, made numerous errors and was carried away by nervousness, including a penalty point in the 11th game of the second set. Alcaraz, on the other hand, was more concrete in the decisive phases of the match, especially in the tie-break, finalised with a winning forehand.

"Musetti is a great player and played well throughout the tournament, the conditions were not easy with the wind. I tried to do my best and played a good match. I am happy for my first final in Rome and for how I have managed the matches so far," said Carlos Alcaraz after winning. "We are two players who change pace often, while this time I had to be very concrete to win, my solidity made the difference today," he concluded.