Carlos Alcaraz has admitted a final against Jannik Sinner in Rome will be “challenging” with the pair to meet in Sunday’s Italian Open final. The Spaniard booked his spot earlier today with a 6-3 7-6 win over Lorenzo Musetti, ensuring he would play the winner of the clash between the world No.1 and Tommy Paul.
Sinner has been in imperious form in the tournament so far, despite returning from a three-month doping ban. In his own final four match he was tested though, coming back to beat Paul 1-6 6-0 6-3. Ahead of that clash, the Spaniard admitted he planned to keep an eye on his rival’s clash, despite having plans to go out for dinner.
“My phone is going to be there watching the match,” he said, after beating Musetti. “I have to know against whom I’m going to play. I have to watch the match and see how they are going to play.”
Alcaraz stopped short of predicting Sinner would beat Paul, but was full of praise for how the top seed had performed so far. He also acknowledged the task potentially ahead of him in front of a partisan Rome crowd.
“He’s playing great,” said Alcaraz. “I’ve been watching his matches. His level is really high right now. Every time that I play against him, it’s always a battle, it’s always really, really tough. I kind of enjoy those moments, as well.
“But to play him in the final would be even more challenging, playing against him at home with the people behind him supporting him. It’s going to be a really difficult challenge.”
Alcaraz, 22, and Sinner, 23, have already met 10 times at professional level. It’s the world No.3 who currently leads their head-to-head meetings 6-4, having prevailed in their last clash in Beijing last year.
The pair already have seven Slam titles between them, with Sinner winning the Australian Open in January before his exile. A final clash on clay in Rome would be an opportunity for both stars to strike a psychological blow before the French Openn this month, with Alcaraz the defending champion.
Content Source: www.express.co.uk