MONACO — In an electrifying showdown, Carlos Alcaraz triumphed over a battling Lorenzo Musetti, finishing with a score of 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 to claim the coveted title at the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday, marking the sixth Masters 1000 win of his remarkable career.
With this victory, Alcaraz not only secured his inaugural Monte Carlo crown but also notched his 18th win at the tour level. The 21-year-old sensation from Spain is set to climb to the No. 2 spot in the ATP world rankings following his stunning performance in Monaco.
Musetti, unfortunately, displayed signs of a right-leg injury during the decisive third set, requiring medical attention at 0-3. The 23-year-old Italian, competing in his first-ever Masters 1000 final, struggled to maintain his pace against the onslaught of Alcaraz.
“It’s not how I envisioned winning a match, and my heart goes out to him,” Alcaraz expressed. “However, I’m incredibly thrilled to win Monte Carlo for the first time. It’s been a challenging week filled with obstacles, and I’m really proud of how I managed everything.”
After experiencing ups and downs early in the season, including a first-round defeat to David Goffin in Miami, Alcaraz has bounced back admirably.
This victory marks Alcaraz’s third consecutive final on clay, following his triumph at the French Open and earning silver at the Paris Olympics last year.
Playing in his 23rd tour-level final, Alcaraz faced a tough semifinal against fellow Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, requiring six match points to ultimately prevail with a score of 7-6 (2), 6-4.
Musetti, ranked 13th and coming off a bronze medal performance in Paris last year, managed to break Alcaraz’s serve twice to secure the first set. However, Alcaraz responded valiantly with two breaks in the second set, leveling the match and dominating in the final set.
The Italian emerged victorious in the semifinals against Alex de Minaur, winning in a closely contested match 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (4). He also made headlines by defeating the defending champion, Stefanos Tsitsipas, in the quarterfinals.
Due to forecasts of heavy rain in the evening, the final was rescheduled three hours earlier, adding to the day’s drama.
