World number three Carlos Alcaraz reached the Italian Open final for the first time after a thrilling 6-3 7-6(4) win over local hope Lorenzo Musetti on Friday. Fans in Rome hoping for an all-Italian final were left disappointed as the Spaniard won in a contest that lasted a little over two hours.

Jannik Sinner downplayed injury concerns as he overcame a blistering start from Tommy Paul to reach the Italian Open final. Sinner, who breezed past Casper Ruud 6-0, 6-1 in the quarter-finals, was

Sunday’s final will mark the first meeting between Sinner and Alcaraz since October, when Alcaraz won the China Open final in a third-set tiebreaker. Alcaraz holds a 6-4 edge in their career meetings and has won three straight against his biggest rival.