By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Photo credit: Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters
Carlos Alcaraz marked his enthusiastic return to clay courts with a dazzling performance.
Alcaraz dominated the match against Francisco Cerundolo, winning 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 and capturing his inaugural Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters title today.
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After a challenging Sunshine Double which saw Alcaraz struggle against Jack Draper at Indian Wells and face an unexpected loss to David Goffin in Miami, the 21-year-old from Spain was eager to embrace the clay once again.
The reigning Roland Garros champion has an impressive track record, winning 13 out of his last 14 clay matches, with his only defeat during this stretch occurring against Grand Slam legend Novak Djokovic in the Olympic gold medal bout held at Roland Garros last summer.
Alcaraz expressed what he cherishes most about playing on clay: the enduring physical challenges of rallies and the fact that serving is less pivotal compared to hard surfaces.
“I think what I miss the most are the intense battles. On clay, the serve isn’t as dominant compared to hard courts, which I find refreshing,” Alcaraz revealed to reporters in Monte-Carlo. “It leads to longer exchanges, offering us more opportunities to craft the point rather than just relying on powerful serves.”
His remarkable agility and unparalleled movement on clay and grass enhance his game on these natural surfaces.
During the Sunshine Double, Alcaraz occasionally struggled with his serve.
While capable of firing first serves at over 130 mph, dazzling spin, and placing shots precisely, he ranked only No. 30 on the ATP Tour for first-serve points won in 2024 (73 percent) and held the No. 12 spot in overall service games won (85.4 percent).
This is relatively low for someone of Alcaraz’s caliber, a four-time Grand Slam champion.
In contrast, world No. 1 Jannik Sinner topped the charts for service games won (91.4 percent) and ranked second for first-serve points won (79.3 percent) last year.
The Spanish prodigy displayed his fiery return game today, converting six out of eight break points while winning 12 out of 14 points on Cerundolo’s serve during the impressive second set.
Alcaraz articulated his longing for the clay-court battles, framing it as “real tennis” in contrast to the more serve-centric style often seen on hard courts.
“Yes, the extended rallies and getting a bit dirty on the court is what I miss most,” he mentioned to the media in Monte-Carlo. “On clay, you witness the essence of true tennis: it’s not just about big serves or quick points, but those long exchanges that showcase skill. For instance, yesterday featured 48 rallies. That level of play is what I enjoy—both as a spectator and a player.”
