Carlos Alcaraz Powers into Monte Carlo Final After Gritty Win Over Davidovich Fokina

MONACO, April 12 — Carlos Alcaraz is back in a big way. The 21-year-old Spanish sensation battled past compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in a hard-fought 7-6(2), 6-4 semifinal to book his spot in the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters final—his first ATP Masters 1000 final in over a year.

Alcaraz, the current World No. 3, showed incredible resilience, needing six match points to seal the win and move into his 23rd tour-level final. It marks his third consecutive final on clay, following his triumph at Roland Garros and a silver medal finish at the Paris Olympics last year.

“It’s been a long time. I just had to be patient and believe that this moment would come again,” said Alcaraz after reaching his first Masters 1000 final since winning Indian Wells in March 2023.

Despite some unforced errors and missed opportunities early in the match—including three missed set points in the opening set—Alcaraz powered through with a commanding tie-break. He didn’t face a single break point in the second set, sealing the victory with a blistering forehand winner down the line that brought the Monte Carlo crowd to its feet.

Alcaraz Sets Up Final Clash with Lorenzo Musetti

On Sunday, Alcaraz will face Lorenzo Musetti, who pulled off a thrilling comeback to defeat Alex de Minaur 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(4). Musetti, fresh off eliminating defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, is into his first-ever ATP Masters 1000 final.

While Alcaraz holds a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over the Italian, Musetti famously beat him in their last clay court final in Hamburg 2022. The Monte Carlo showdown promises fireworks, especially with both players in strong form on the red dirt.

Due to forecasted heavy rain, Sunday’s final has been rescheduled to start three hours earlier than originally planned.

Climbing the Rankings Again

With this run, Alcaraz is not just chasing the Monte Carlo trophy—he’s on the verge of overtaking Alexander Zverev to reclaim the World No. 2 ranking in the ATP standings. He has already moved ahead of Jannik Sinner in the ATP Live Race to Turin, showing once again why he’s one of the most dynamic young stars in tennis today.

“I think I played really good tennis from start to finish,” Alcaraz said. “He saved a lot of break points and match points, but I stayed focused and felt great physically. That made the difference.”

Davidovich Fokina Shows Grit Despite Defeat

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, a Monte Carlo finalist in 2022, put up a gritty performance, highlighted by a 13-minute hold of serve in the second set. His relentless defense kept the match competitive, but he couldn’t hold off Alcaraz’s firepower. Despite the loss, Davidovich Fokina will return to the Top 30 in the ATP Rankings for the first time since May 2023.

Alcaraz’s Monte Carlo Mission: First Title in the Principality

Having already conquered the clay of Paris, Alcaraz is now just one win away from lifting his first Monte Carlo title and adding a sixth Masters 1000 trophy to his growing collection. With momentum, talent, and form on his side, Sunday’s final is set to be a classic.

Can Alcaraz complete his clay-court triple and reign in Monte Carlo? All eyes will be on the rain-adjusted final this Sunday.