Lorenzo Musetti achieved a significant victory at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome on Wednesday, as he defeated defending champion Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals with a score of 7-6 (1), 6-4. This win marks a major milestone for Musetti, elevating him to eighth place in the ATP rankings, a career-high for the young Italian.
Musetti’s semifinal opponent will be third-seeded Carlos Alcaraz, who secured his spot by beating fifth-seeded Jack Draper 6-4, 6-4. Musetti previously faced Alcaraz in the final in Monaco last month, where he fell in three sets, trailing Alcaraz in their head-to-head with the Spaniard winning four out of five matches.
Despite struggling with his first serve, where he only landed 50%, Musetti showcased resilience by saving four of the six break points he faced. He capitalized on three break opportunities against Zverev, a testament to his composure and skill under pressure. Musetti credited his performance to the overwhelming support from the home crowd, stating, “Fans, full stadium, and that is a great advantage. I felt the adrenaline and energy from the first point, and that was key to this match.”
In the other quarter-finals, Alcaraz is aiming for his third consecutive final after a strong start to the clay season despite a setback from an injury post-Barcelona. Alcaraz expressed confidence in his game, remarking, “I feel like I am playing excellent tennis on clay. I’m excited to maintain this momentum and compete to the best of my abilities.” His recent performances, highlighted by a 24-8 advantage in winners against Draper, have bolstered his confidence.
Furthermore, sixth-seed Casper Ruud advanced to the quarter-finals with a straight-sets victory over Jaume Munar, setting up an exciting match against top-ranked Italian Jannik Sinner. Another quarter-final scheduled features eleventh-seeded Tommy Paul against thirtieth-seeded Hubert Hurkacz.
This tournament continues to showcase the rising talents in tennis, with young players like Musetti and Alcaraz making significant strides in their careers, positioning themselves prominently as the clay court season progresses.