Red-hot Jannik Sinner will face Carlos Alcaraz in the final of Internazionali Bnl D’Italia after winning his semi-final matches in Rome on Friday.
Spanish 3 seeds Alcaraz Italian eighth Seed Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 7-6 (4) after sending, World No. 1 Sinner, American seed Tommy Paul 1-6, 6-0, 6-3 to eliminate the first set of defeat returned.
23 -year -old Sinner will try to be the first Italian man to win the National Open since Adriano Panatta in 1976. Before this year, Sinner had never passed the quarter -finals in Rome.
Sinner’s 26th flat match victory dating back to last year comes after a three -month doping suspension.
Paul, the first set victory on the road to Sinner 5-0 ahead. Sinner had only two winners in this set against 13 forced mistakes, and Paul served 21 to 16.
After that, the match turned to his head. Sinner broke the service of Paul in the second match of the second set, won the second break point and passed the rest of the set. He made the first three matches of the third set.
Although it went to the distance, Sinner and Paul’s Topsy-Turvy match lasted less than two sets of victory of Alcaraz (two hours, three minutes) to Alcaraz (one hour, 43 minutes).
22 -year -old Alcaraz helped Musetti forcibly with a total of nine winners. The Spanish saved 5 out of 8 break points and won almost half of his return points (45 of 93), making Musetti’s service a barely threat.
Alcaraz, “Today was a really difficult day with conditions, your wind was hard to play.” He said. “It wasn’t about playing bright, gorgeous tennis. He was about playing smart tennis, playing firmly, going to the point you can and waiting for the chance to play aggressive.
Alcaraz returned after missing Madrid Open and ATP Masters 1000 due to Adductor injury. Before that, he won the title in Monte-Carlo.
Both Sinner and Alcaraz will compete in the 25th round level finals on Sunday. Sinner has not yet won the Masters 1000 title on Clay.
-FELD level media
