Home favorite Lorenzo Musetti bowed out in the Rome Masters semi-final following a 6-3, 7-6 defeat to Carlos Alcaraz. Playing in front of a passionate home crowd at Foro Italico, Musetti admitted he struggled to stay positive.

Carlos Alcaraz beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 7-6(4) in a sloppy duel Friday afternoon at the Foro Italico. He will face the winner of the second semifinal between Jannik Sinner and Tommy Paul in Sunday’s final.

Alcaraz is the reigning French Open champion, who has won 26 of his last 28 claycourt matches. This is the ultimate test for Sinner, who did admit to being troubled by a blister after his semi-final when he also had a leg issue, one he later downplayed.