Lorenzo Musetti stepped up to defend Carlos Alcaraz in the face of rising criticism over the Spaniard's perceived lack of consistency and commitment. The two rivals battled in the Rome Masters semi-final.

Carlos Alcaraz beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 7-6(4) in a sloppy duel Friday afternoon at the Foro Italico in Rome. He will face world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who beat Tommy Paul later in the day, in Sunday’s final.

Local favourite Lorenzo Musetti squares off against Carlos Alcaraz in a rematch of the Monte Carlo Masters final from last month. A Foro Italico blockbuster semifinal awaits on Friday. Their previous meeting was a heartbreak for the Italian tennis star after a good beginning,