Carlos Alcaraz has bulldozed his way into the Rome Masters final after beating home hope Lorenzo Musetti in a tough semifinal on Saturday.
The Spanish sensation, who is seeking his maiden title in the Eternal City, recognized the tough environment at the Foro Italico but congratulated the Italian fans on having respect. Alcaraz, who won in straight sets, was full of admiration for both the environment and the behavior of the crowd, despite their strong support for Musetti.
“Today, the crowd was for Lorenzo. So it wasn’t easy. It was great honestly. The atmosphere was great,” Carlos Alcaraz stated after the match.
Continuing further, he added, “I have to say thank you for them being respectful as well. Obviously there are some times they were cheering for him in some moments between serves or whatever. But in general they were respectful. So I have to thank them.”
Competing against an Italian in Rome is always a special test, but the 21-year-old Spaniard kept his cool and concentration throughout the race.
Preparations in hand for Sunday’s final, Alcaraz conceded he is anticipating a tough battle against Italy’s own Jannik Sinner, who is in excellent form on the clay.
Alcaraz added, “Jannik… I mean everyone watched the match against Casper. It was an enormous level. Let’s see. If I’m gonna face Tommy Paul, I have to prepare myself for that. If I face Jannik, I have to prepare myself for that fight. And of course, coping with the crowd. It’s going to be an exciting Sunday for sure.”
Alcaraz’s encounter with Sinner would be their sixth career encounter and an opportunity for fans to see one of tennis’s brightest conflicts at one of its most storied venues.
