The Japan Times - Sinner lines up Alcaraz showdown in Italian Open final

World number one Sinner fought back from a set down in front of a packed crowd to continue his march towards a first title at the Foro Italico.

After a strangely slow start, Sinner again showed good form on centre court where, since returning to action last week from a three-month doping ban, he has taken his unbeaten run to 26 matches.

And the 23-year-old will face down Alcaraz, the last man to beat Sinner in the final at the China Open in early October, with all eyes on another potential final between the pair at the French Open next month.

A win for Sinner against his rival would see the men's Rome title go to an Italian for the first time since Adriano Panatta in 1976.

"If I want to win Sunday I have to play one of my best tennis for sure," said Sinner.

"Carlos has played incredible tennis today, so let's see what's coming but from my side you know incredible to be here in the final."

Alcaraz booked his place in the showdown by beating Sinner's countryman Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).

The four-time Grand Slam champion overcame Musetti and the windy conditions in just over two hours to reach his fourth final of the season.

"I'm going to have dinner, but my phone is going to be there watching (Sinner's) match," said Alcaraz after his win.

"I have to know against who I'm going to play. I have to watch the match and see how they are going to play."

Musetti was beaten by Alcaraz in the Monte Carlo final last month and fell to his fifth straight defeat to the Spaniard after a frustrating display.

And he believes that Alcaraz will have the better of it against Sinner if he brings his top form on Sunday evening.

"I really rate Carlos. I think on clay that the best version of Carlos is favourite against anyone... that includes Jannik," he told reporters.

- Sinner bounces back -

Paul rattled off the first five games in 21 minutes in a near replica of what Sinner did to Casper Ruud on Thursday, closing out the first set in less than half an hour.

The last time Sinner lost a set 6-1 was in the quarter-finals of the US Open against Daniil Medvedev, a match he won on his way to his second Grand Slam triumph.

Sinner looked a shadow of the player who dominated tennis throughout 2024 right up to the start of his suspension, which was agreed with the World Anti-Doping Agency in early February.

But frm nowhere he came roaring back in the second set, finally forcing Paul back with some deep baseline shots of his own and his first aces of the match to win the second set to love and level the match.

It was a complete role reversal with Paul now the one being thrown around the court, the world number 12 winning just 12 points in the second set and looking bewildered at how quickly the momentum shifted.

Paul then handed Sinner the initiative with his second double fault of the night in game two of the third set. The Italian eventually won nine games in a row and marched on to victory

Earlier, Jasmine Paolini continued her bid to win the women's singles and doubles titles in Rome after reaching her second final of the week, this time alongside fellow Italian Sara Errani.

Paolini and Errani, the reigning doubles champions, will meet Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens in the final on Sunday, before which Paolini could already be crowed singles champion.

Late bloomer Paolini takes on Coco Gauff on Saturday aiming for her second 1000 series title at the age of 29 and to become the first Italian women to win in Rome since Raffaella Reggi in 1985.

K.Inoue--JT