Rome Masters: In-form Musetti defeats Zverev to book spot in semi-finals

Lorenzo Musetti, the No 8 seed, beat German Alexander Zverev, the second seed, 7-6 (1), 6-4 to move into the semi-finals of the Rome Masters at the Foro Italico in Rome.

The in-form Italian twice came back from a break down in the first set, once when Zverev had been serving for the opener, before powering to take the tiebreak 7-1.

As Zverev looked increasingly despairing at the state of the what he deemed a poor-quality clay court, Musetti’s level increased when it mattered most, breaking again in the ninth game of the second set before serving out another huge win in what has been a stellar clay-court campaign for the Italian.

“It’s amazing to see a full crowd, so late full, a full stadium,” Musetti said in his on-court interview.

“It was a great advantage all this week, the support from the crowd.

“It was part of the strategy to make things complicated for Sasa. He’s such a good hitter, but he’s a little far behind the baseline. I took my chance sometimes The humidity of the night helped because it was not bouncing very much.”

Musetti, ranked No 9, will face Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, the No 3 seed, next.

The Italian won against Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen (6-3, 6-2), American Brandon Nakashima, the No 28 seed (6-4, 6-3) and Russian Daniil Medvedev, the No 10 seed (7-5, 6-4) ahead of his victory.

Earlier in the tournament, Zverev, ranked No 2, won against Argentinian Camilo Ugo Carabelli (6-2, 6-1), Lithuanian qualifier Vilius Gaubas (6-4, 6-0) and Frenchman Arthur Fils, the No 13 seed (7-6 (3), 6-1).

Rome Masters 1000, other last-eight results (Foro Italico, clay, EUR 8.055.385, most recent results first):

• Jannik Sinner vs. Casper Ruud
• Hubert Hurkacz vs. Tommy Paul
• Carlos Alcaraz beat Jack Draper (5): 6-4, 6-4