“I’m ready for that final” – Alcaraz on Rome title showdown

Carlos Alcaraz is all set for Sunday’s final in Rome

Carlos Alcaraz (Zuma/PSNewz)

Carrie Dunn

May 16, 2025

Internazionali BNL d'Italia •Semi-final • Completed

See draw

C. AlcarazvsL. Musetti

Carlos Alcaraz is into the final of the Italian Open – where he could resume his rivalry with Jannik Sinner, or face off with Tommy Paul.

Whoever he plays, he’s raring to go come Sunday.

“I always say that you can be better,” he said to journalists in his press conference. “Obviously I’ve been trying to improve after every day, after every match, after every practice. I think is an opportunity to be better, to improve.

“I’m going to say I’m ready for that final. I’m excited to play my first final here in Rome. I have a lot of confidence. I know that I’m feeling great, I’m playing great tennis. Always can be better.

“Hopefully in the final I’m going to approach the match.”

Alcaraz: Sometimes thoughts play against you

He also had kind words for Lorenzo Musetti, who he beat in straight sets in the semi-final.

“This is the third Masters semi-final in a row he play. But obviously sometime is difficult when you’re playing the home. You want to win. It is in your mind all the time. I mean, ‘I want to win. I want to make the final here at home. I want to make them proud of me.’ Sometimes that thoughts play against you.

“Probably at the beginning, I mean, he made a lot of mistakes. At the beginning he was really nervous. I could saw it. I tried to make the most of it, of that mistakes. I tried to be solid, playing smart in that moments. That’s why I won the first set.

“For me was a little bit, let’s say, easier for him being one set down in a semi-final. Probably could be tough to come back. I’m not going to say it was because of the experience, but playing at home sometime it is against you.

“The thoughts of him that I’m the favourite [for] Roland-Garros, it is great that someone like Lorenzo who is top 10 seeing myself as the favourite of Roland-Garros.

“I say so many times, I don’t want to think about it. All I can say is I’m feeling great. I have a lot of confidence right now. Yes, I would love to go to Roland-Garros and try to enjoy the tournament and being in Paris.”