Jack Draper booked his spot in the Madrid Open final with a hard struggle against Lorenzo Musetti 6-3 7-6 (7-4).
The UK ranked No. 1 will play against Norway’s Casper Ruud on Sunday.
Draper, 23, was broken in the opening ceremony, but claimed his double breakthrough comfort.
This is the first time the 2024 U.S. Open has reached the final of a clay game.
He was the first British man to reach the Madrid Open final and the second after Scotland Andy Murray, who made his appearance in three finals and won two titles.
Draper aims for his second ATP title this year after defeating Holger Rune in Indian Wells in March.
“It felt like a pivotal moment for both of us. We both were at a high level. I played Lorenzo in both of my juniors and it was always tough, but he was another animal on clay,” Draper told Sky Sports.
“Sometimes, at critical moments, I think about the pain I suffer every day – all the sacrifices.”
He won all four meetings with Musetti to become a professional, and his perfect record even goes back to their days as juniors.
This may have been a role in Musetti's mind when Musetti gave up on his first service.
The Italians immediately fought back, but as Draper's forehand proved to be a key factor again, he could not force himself into the first set.
Musetti made a big improvement in the second set, which made the more competitive spectacle.
The Madrid crowd fell firmly behind Musetti and chanted his name in Game 5 as the fallen shooter was fighting for.
Both players refused to serve – each saving a break – before entering the tiebreak.
Again, it was a tense battle, but Draper gained a breakthrough in stealing control at point 5 and continued to fight for victory – ending with an authoritative cross-field backhand.
