Carlos Alcaraz booked his place in the Italian Open final after battling past home favourite Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets on Friday. 

Alcaraz tamed a mid-match surge from Musetti, as well as windy conditions in Rome, to earn a statement 6-3 7-6 (7-4) victory in two hours and three minutes. 

The Spaniard will face either Jannik Sinner or Tommy Paul, who square off later on Friday, in the showpiece match on Sunday. 

Alcaraz appeared to be in control of the contest after breaking Musetti early on before racing into a 4-1 lead, only for the Italian to roar back to within one game of his opponent. 

But the third seed remained composed, seeing out the first set, confirming his early lead at the third time of asking. 

But just as Alcaraz did in the first set, Musetti opened the second with a break of his own, with the pair trading breaks in the first three games before the eighth seed took control. 

Alcaraz was able to grab a crucial break in the eighth game, though, which saw the match go the distance, with the 22-year-old sealing the win with a fierce forehand to the right baseline in the tie-break. 

"Today was a really difficult day with the conditions, the wind was tough to play with," said Alcaraz, who is now 26-2 on clay since last May.

"It wasn't about playing spectacular tennis. It was about playing smart tennis, playing solid, going to the point when you can, and waiting for the chance to play aggressively.

"I think I did that pretty well. I stayed strong mentally when things didn't go to my side."

BUILT DIFFERENT

In a repeat of the Monte Carlo final, @carlosalcaraz defeats Musetti to reach the championship match in Rome!@InteBNLdItalia | #IBI25 pic.twitter.com/O82aZTwG9Q

— ATP Tour (@atptour) May 16, 2025

Data Debrief: Alcaraz matches Edberg with Rome win

Alcaraz is into his maiden final in Rome, with his victory seeing him tie Stefan Edberg for the second-most victories in their first 100 matches at ATP Masters 1000 level (both 77). Only Rafael Nadal (83) has more since the format's introduction in 1990. 

Alcaraz (26.7%, 8/30) is also now one of four to reach the final from 25+% of the ATP Masters 1000 main draws entered, along with Novak Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer.

Among players with 10+ such matches since 1973, Alcaraz (65.0%, 39-21) now trails only Bjorn Borg, Djokovic and Boris Becker for winning percentage against ATP top 10 opponents. 

Surpassing his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, Alcaraz (22y 2d) is also the second-youngest player to reach the final at three ATP Masters 1000 events on clay, older than only Nadal (20y 345d, Hamburg 2007).