Jannik Sinner set up a blockbuster Italian Open final against Carlos Alcaraz, after the world number one fought from behind to beat American Tommy Paul.
Playing on home soil in his first tournament since a three-month doping ban, Sinner was made to fight before eventually overcoming the 11th seed 1-6 6-0 6-3.
In front of a packed and partisan centre court in Rome, the 23-year-old stretched his unbeaten run to 26 matches and moved one win away from being the first Italian to win their home open since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
Earlier on Friday, Alcaraz dashed home hopes of an all-Italian final by beating Lorenzo Musetti 6-3 7-6 (7-4).
Four-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz looks in good shape for the French Open later this month as he reached a fourth final of the season by winning in straight sets in just over two hours.
For Musetti, it was a fifth straight loss to the Spaniard having also lost on clay in the Monte Carlo final last month.
The 23-year-old gave up three breaks of serve and made 29 unforced errors in the first set, and was warned by the umpire after slamming his racket into the clay.
Both men exchanged breaks at the start of the second set and Musetti moved 4-3 ahead with some spectacular shots, but Alcaraz broke back in game eight – causing his furious opponent to smash his ball into the stands.
Alcaraz, 22, kept his cool to win the tie-break 7-4, and set up the final every tennis fan wanted.
