Alcaraz Advances to Monte Carlo Final After Hard-Fought Victory

MONACO — Carlos Alcaraz defeated Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6 (2), 6-4 on Saturday to reach the final of the Monte Carlo Masters, marking his first ATP Masters 1000 final in 13 months. The victory came after a challenging match that showcased Alcaraz’s resilience and skill.

Alcaraz, currently ranked third in the world, overcame several obstacles throughout the match, needing six match points to secure his place in the final. He will face Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, who reached the final after a hard-fought battle against Alex de Minaur, winning 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4).

“It’s been a long time,” said Alcaraz, reflecting on his absence from Masters 1000 finals. “I just had to be patient and believe that this moment was going to come again.” He added, “Sometimes people are not patient; they want me to make the final in every tournament.”

In the first set against Davidovich Fokina, Alcaraz struggled to convert break points, succeeding only three times out of 19 chances. Despite this, he kept his composure and won the set in a tiebreak after saving three set points.

Alcaraz showcased his physical prowess and tactical play in the second set, where he didn’t face a single break point. He noted, “The most important thing is that I’m feeling great physically.”

Musetti, ranked 13th, will be vying for his first title at the Masters level. If he wins, he could also break into the Top 10 of the ATP Rankings. Both players will be setting their sights on a championship title in a match scheduled three hours earlier than originally planned due to anticipated heavy rain.

The final match is set for Sunday at 12 p.m. local time (6 a.m. ET). It marks Alcaraz’s third consecutive final on clay, following his triumph at the French Open and a silver medal finish at the Paris Olympics last year. He holds a 3-1 advantage over Musetti in their ATP Head2Head series, having won their last three encounters.