ROMA – Carlos Alcalaz advanced to his first Italian Open Finals on Friday with a 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory over Lorenzo Musetti.
It was the third final of three clay court events this season, with Alcalaz winning the Monte Carlo Masters and running for the Barcelona Open before withdrawing from the Madrid Open due to injury.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz is preparing to defend his title at the French Open, which begins on May 25th.
In the final on Sunday, Alcaraz faced top-ranked Janik Thinner, defeating No. 12 Tommy Paul in Friday’s three sets.
The Criminal levelled him in the AA 6-0, 6-1 Casperudo defeat in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
“Everyone saw the match against Casper,” Alcaraz said. “That’s on a big level.
“If I’m going to play Tommy Paul, I have to be prepared, and if I’m going to play Janik, I’m ready for that fight and obviously dealing with the crowd,” Alcaraz said. “So it’s certainly going to be an interesting Sunday.”
Saturday’s women’s final features Coco Gouf with Jasmine Parini.
Paulini and partner Sara Ellani also made it to the women’s doubles final when they beat Russian pair Mira Andreva and Diana Schneider 6-4, 6-4 as the Italians won last year’s Olympic final.
Alcaraz, who was in third place, retreated from the Madrid Tournament due to a leg problem in his upper right foot, and also suffered a left leg injury. In Rome, he wears a long black brace that covers the top of his right leg, extending just below his knees.
Musetti first took off Alcaraz at Monte Carlo Final, but Alcaraz defeated the Italian serve in the first game of the rematch to silence the promsetti crowd at Campo Centrale. Musetti doesn’t help with a series of unforced errors, just started pressing Alcaraz at the end of the set.
Musetti docked Misbehavior’s point later in the second set after being warned early to break the racket.
On a windy day in Italicofolo, Alcaraz said he needed “smart tennis” rather than playing “brilliant.”
“I think I did it pretty well because I’m waiting for your chance to play offensively,” Alcaraz said. “I stayed mentally strong when things didn’t go to my side.”
Alcaraz is performing at the Italian Open for the second time. In his Rome debut last year, he lost to Fabian Malotzan, a Hungarian qualifier who ranked 135th in the third round.