World No.3 Carlos Alcaraz advanced to his first Monte Carlo Masters final with a composed 7-6(7/2), 6-4 victory over compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Saturday, MySportDab Reports.
The 21-year-old Spaniard, who has struggled to find consistent form in recent months, looked sharp on the red clay as he moved one win away from his first Masters 1000 title since Indian Wells in 2023.
Alcaraz, a four-time Grand Slam champion, broke early in both sets and despite a spirited fightback from Davidovich Fokina, including saving 13 break points and four match points, the No.3 seed never looked rattled. After edging the first set in a tie-break, Alcaraz regained momentum early in the second and closed out the match with authority.
“I knew how well Davidovich Fokina had played here, so I had to be ready to fight,” Alcaraz said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had the chance to win a title on clay, and I can’t wait to try again here.”
Alcaraz’s path to the final was eased by early exits of top seeds Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic, and the continued absence of world No.1 Jannik Sinner due to a doping ban.
However, the Spaniard admitted the pressure of being favourite had briefly affected his focus. “I was thinking so much about the ranking and winning instead of just enjoying my tennis,” he revealed.
In Sunday’s final, Alcaraz will face Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, who produced a thrilling comeback to defeat Alex de Minaur 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(7/4) in the second semi-final. Playing in his first Masters 1000 semi-final, Musetti looked overwhelmed in the first set, losing all four service games. But the 23-year-old steadied in the second, grabbing a decisive break in the ninth game.
The final set saw a flurry of momentum shifts, with both players exchanging breaks before Musetti clinched the win in the tie-break. “I just tried to stay present and play with heart,” said Musetti, who is chasing the biggest title of his career.
Sunday’s final promises a thrilling clay-court clash between two of the brightest young stars in tennis.
